Youth baseball - Too good for his own good

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By Jack Hutslar
August 27, 2008

I am certain that youth sport fans have read about the nine-year-old baseball player in Connecticut with a blazing fastball. Seems like he is too good for this co-ed league of beginners. I can understand that. He is probably scaring the wits out of some of those boys and girls in that league.

It would appear that some of the adults were aware of his talents before the season began. That is where the problem started. Unfortunately, this situation was allowed to progress into the season to the point that there were ruffled feathers all around.

In situations where it is known that a player is far better than the other players, it is an acceptable policy to ask them play up to the next level. Apparently, this was not a satisfactory solution for some reason. Nevertheless, that was the proper solution in this situation.

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, youngsters who are more highly skilled than their age mates should be placed in leagues composed of players with comparable skills. This makes the game, any game, more challenging for everyone involved.

In My Opinion: Full contact youth fighting

by Jack Hutslar
North American Youth Sport Institute

Have you seen any of the mixed martial arts ultimate fighting matches on television or in person. The action in these rapid action matches is non stop compared to the turtle-like pace of boxing.

As you might expect, this full contact sport has moved down into the youth levels. The result is full contact martial arts with students as young as five and six years of age. In fact, some of these so called classes take place without headguards.

There is merit in teaching youngsters how to defend themselves against others. Many parents have put their children into various types of self defense classes. They consider them to be valuable confidence building experiences that transform their meek and mild children into more confident youngsters rather quickly.

However, little kids slugging it out toe to toe seems really not appropriate as far as I am concerned. In fact, I believe that it is dead wrong. OK. Teach them the defensive skills but hold off on full contact mixed martial arts combat [with headgear] until they are teenagers.