PD*Poll: Little Leaguer gets benched for mom's no-show
Categories: Kids 5-7, Fun & Activities, In The News
A seven-year-old Boston area Little Leaguer recently got benched for two games in a row because his mom failed to show up for her volunteer time in the concession stand.
The two-year-old rule requires that parents pitch in at concessions because it's the primary revenue for the league. The boy's mom had to go to work that day, despite knowing about the commitment for months, and so the boy missed out on game time as a consequence.
Maybe it's just the nails-on-a-chalkboard hysteria in this newscaster's voice, but I'm agreeing with the coach on this one. The rule was clearly in place before the season began, and mom had an opportunity to find someone else who could work her volunteer hours for her. Coach says that they had six no-show parents this year, a situation that has to make it hard to keep things running smoothly.
I do feel bad for the boy, though. In our local soccer league, parents are required to commit to an hour of volunteer time or to opt-out for a $25 fee up front. If you're a no-show, the fee goes up to $35. That way, parents who don't keep their commitments feel the pain in their pocketbooks...and kids get to play.
Photo by DF Shapinsky for PINGNews.com/Shapinsky MultiMedia
The two-year-old rule requires that parents pitch in at concessions because it's the primary revenue for the league. The boy's mom had to go to work that day, despite knowing about the commitment for months, and so the boy missed out on game time as a consequence.
Maybe it's just the nails-on-a-chalkboard hysteria in this newscaster's voice, but I'm agreeing with the coach on this one. The rule was clearly in place before the season began, and mom had an opportunity to find someone else who could work her volunteer hours for her. Coach says that they had six no-show parents this year, a situation that has to make it hard to keep things running smoothly.
I do feel bad for the boy, though. In our local soccer league, parents are required to commit to an hour of volunteer time or to opt-out for a $25 fee up front. If you're a no-show, the fee goes up to $35. That way, parents who don't keep their commitments feel the pain in their pocketbooks...and kids get to play.
Photo by DF Shapinsky for PINGNews.com/Shapinsky MultiMedia
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SAM 5-17-2008 @ 4:10PM
That's unfair that he missed the game. Where my son plays, when you sign up you pay $40. As long as you do your time, you get the money back. Otherwise the league keeps the money. That's fair. Don't penalize the kid for the parents mistake.
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Jenni 5-18-2008 @ 12:28AM
It is sad for the child and I don't know that I could have done it; but the mom should not have sent him to the game. I am sure she knew the obligation. I am also guessing she knew the consequences. Who was in the stands rooting for this child? How absolutly sad.
Once again, because of adult bad choices, an innocent child reaps the consequences.
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Tanisha 5-18-2008 @ 1:52PM
A parent who leaves work to volunteer is making a bad choice if the consequence is losing her job, or getting reprimanded. It is not a bad choice to stay and ensure that you can feed, shelter and pay for another season of LL. Even if your child has to endure the shame of the bench. Unfortuanate, but characher building.
Justin 5-18-2008 @ 8:13AM
Wow, utterly sad indeed.
While the mother did know about the commitment and perhaps could have tried to work around it, I know many work places that simply won't let you take time off for a game like that. So the option is either not go and keep your job, or go see a game, but come home without a job. So while I don't like the idea that she wasn't there, it also sounds like she didn't have much of an option.
What bugs me more is this team's stupid policy. It's not the child's fault that the parent can't make it, so why in the hell should the child pay the price. The person at fault here is clearly the idiot of a coach/manager of this team/league. I would be embarrassed to have anything to do with a group with such a stupid policy, especially since the only ones who pay the price are the children. The person who made this rule is certainly not there for the children. Most of the teams here have a simple sign-up fee and that's it. There are sometimes events to raise money but they certainly aren't obligatory, and most the time everyone shows up for them since they are always so much fun.
Hats off to the jerk of a coach! Way to go, now go sit on the bench for not being a team player. Moron.
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Tanisha 5-18-2008 @ 1:51PM
Very few employers will allow your childs activities to dictate the running of their company. That is life, and the fact the that LL does not have a contiguency in place for that is pathetic and unrealisitic. I like the idea that you can buy your way out with a donation to the league, but making the child pay the price is wrong. Like working mother's don't already have enough guilt!
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lacey 5-18-2008 @ 2:53PM
When you register your child for LL, you are accepting the responsibilities that accompany. Concession sign-ups are arranged before the first game, so plenty of time is available to find a replacement volunteer or ask for time off from your employer.
If the "rule" is not acceptable, then withdraw the child from LL. Usually the sign-up fee is refundable if the first game has not occured.
Instilling responsibilites in children is the parents obligation. If a parent makes an appointment, and does not keep it for whatever reason, this demonstrates to the child that it is okay to "no-show". To not take responsibility and no-show for the appointment/obligation to the concession (or anything) is not what we should be teaching our youth. How can we possibly punish the parent for this action? By suspending the player, we are teaching the parents that their actions have a direct effect on the child and if you don't want your child suspended, show up to your obligation, or find someone who will.
I volunteer to open and close the concession stand in our small town because I like to volunteer and it is the only means of income for the LL. I had to miss 7 (out of 10) of my daughters games this season because of concession worker "no-shows". (It was either work it and not make money, which means no trophies and end of seasonparties) Is that fair to my daughter? Maybe if we had a rule like the one mentioned, the parents would have been a tad more responsible and realized that no-showing, for whatever reason, effects MORE than your child who had to sit on the bench.
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CLM 5-18-2008 @ 10:36PM
I think she just blew it off. She could have gotten someone else to work her shift at the concession stand and her child would have been allowed to play. So it sounds to me as though the league tried to accommodate for the fact that not every parent can afford to simply take off from work.
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Justin 5-19-2008 @ 8:08AM
lacey I think miss the entire point of what LL is supposed to be about.
LL is supposed to be a place where children can have fun playing sports. Granted everyone would love that the parents spend time with their child, there are just times where work and other things simply DO NOT PERMIT it. I would be much happier for a parent who couldn't spend the time, at least sign their child up for something the child enjoys, instead of passing them off on a babysitter.
I know you want to get rid of the no-show parents, but at the same time you've now probably destroyed some of the dreams/ambitions of some of the best and most enthusiastic players.
Since when is it the child's fault, or the child's place to pay the price, for either a bonehead parent, or a parent who is doing all they can for the family.
You people need to get a life. Here the system manages to work perfectly and there's no need for this garbage. Go back to your desk and figure it out properly, and this time remember that the kids are the most important thing in your game, not your stupid rules!
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Amy N 5-20-2008 @ 5:11PM
It is absurd to punish children because of their parents actions. Not only did the poor child not get to play, but I'm sure he received his share of mean comments to boot! It is a rule that should never have been in place to begin with. In today's economy it is hard for all parents to get to every game or to take time off work. At least this mother provided her son the opportunity to play sports....I wonder what she had to sacrafice to do that. Our league allows parents who don't want to do a shift in the Snack Shack to hire an alumni (high schooler who used to play in the league) for $25. They are provided with a list of authorized contacts at the beginning of the season. Allows the teenagers to make some green and the parent to do what needs to be done, whether that is work or root for their child.
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Amy N 5-20-2008 @ 5:17PM
And by the way Lacey....get off your high horse and get to some of your kids games! In our league all of the money made at Snack Shack goes to field upkeep, uniforms, etc. Each team (AND PARENT) is responsible for covering the fee for their childs' trophy and the end of the year party. Grow some compassion!
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