From local recreational leagues to Little League to PONY league, youth sports has reached an all-time low when it comes to adults ruining the game for kids.
Since the Tulsa National Little League became national news just weeks ago, my inbox has filled up with stories from other youth softball and baseball leagues across the country.
My question for the parents is simple. Why?
Is it because social media has created a false reality, where posting and collecting likes is a dopamine hit that props your child up on a pedestal?
Is it because of the attention? Potential NIL deals? Maybe a news story?
I need an answer because the stories I’m hearing don’t make me want to register my kid for sports.
The most recent email I got was from a parent in Southern California whose daughter plays 12-and-under PONY softball. The team just played in the World Series in Hemet, Calif.
The finals featured a team from Redlands and a team from the Philippines. What happened next isn’t even shocking anymore.
The team from the Philippines had six players on its roster from California. They were handpicked to play in the tournament and allegedly did not play in the required 50 percent of regular season games.
How could they if they live in California?
According to this parent, a protest was filed, nothing was done and the all-star team from the Philippines won 9-1.
Stories like this are beyond infuriating and it doesn’t stop there. The Tulsa National Little League situation continues to take turns I never could have seen coming.
Now, the parents are turning on the administration. It’s a complete mess that could have been prevented.
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So, where do we go from here?
Youth sports need to be divided into recreational and competitive. The same can be said for Little League. I know All-Stars is supposed to be that solution, but if All-Stars is causing this much of a ruckus, the system is clearly broken.
Here is my proposal: the Little League should be split into tiers with All-Stars selected from the more competitive division. The contract with ESPN is through 2030, so that won’t be affected.
By splitting the league, there won’t be an argument about whether the All-Star group is truly the best kids from the league because they will be the best from the more competitive division.
It’s just an idea. I don’t know if there is a remedy for what has happened this summer, but what I do know is that these kids will remember the trauma the adults have caused.
Continued coverage of Tulsa National Little League:
Little League escalates Tulsa National dispute with cease-and-desist orders
Oklahoma Little League district administrator speaks out as controversy reaches breaking point
UPDATED: New evidence shows Oklahoma Little League state tournament was a sham
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