After a recent vote of the TBAWA council, the under 13's age group is back. Possibly a fitting decision in light of the fact that in the near future the Education Department will be ceasing primary School at year 6. This translate into the fact that most primary school children will be eligible to play our sport.
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Another step backwards in the development of kids in Western Australia. I wonder if the AFL are looking to extend the age of kids playing Auskick or if Netball are looking to extend the age of kids playing Netta.
ReplyDeleteI can here the uneducated saying now that it is a different sport, I just wish these people would read the history of this game even in this State. Just when I thought TBAWA was making a positive step forward in the development of kids and the transition of this sport to the next level they along with some backward thinking clubs failed to realise the importance of developing the kids.
I read recently in one clubs newletter to all kids that are leaving because of age best of luck in whatever sport you go to and nothing about the transition of the sport to the next level. Well done to that club, yet again the uneducated rule the development. WHY!!! I have no idea but I look forward to seeing how many kids try and hit a home run over Riverside Drive this year instead of developing newer more advance skills. For those who must know I am a very strong advocate of teeball, this sport is absolutly necessary however watching 12 years olds with potential, who are still playing teeball after 4+ years is very sad indeed and I feel sorry for them and the club they are from.
I can assure you that Auskick or Netta would increase their age if they had similar issues with a lack of kids transitioning from the junior sport to the senior version!
DeleteDiamond sports need to make Little league baseball and softball more interesting and fun for 10-13 year olds. That is the only way to increase the chances of kids transitioning. Seems that people think that the best way to promote this transition is to force kids out of Teeball. Dumb!
I have seen LL games where kids didn't touch the ball once, nor hit the ball once. Without Teeball these kids are gone!!!
People need to stop focusing on developing the next 'Perth Heat' players and make Baseball/Softball fun and inclusive for all kids irrespective of age / skill level.
Only then, will 12's Teeball collapse as kids will actually prefer to play Baseball or Softball!!!
As to the comment of the ‘uneducated’ making this decision. Looking at the lack of popularity of baseball in WA, the ‘educated’ historically have not been too smart!
Mate you are so far of the mark with your comments on Auskick it is not funny. The age grouping around football is based solely on a development pathway to the senior level of the sport. The AFL have created a detailed pathway for the sport and how each age group grows within the sport therefore as the kids get older new rules etc are implimented into the game so as to gradually improve their skills as they get older.
DeleteThis is very aparently not happening in WA with Diamond sports. Having had my kid play teeball for 2 years now during the football off season, I had to laugh at the lack of a development pathway within the sport.
Teeball and in particular my District namely Thornlie & Districts plus most of the clubs have no development plan for kids in this sport. A couple of clubs (who I will now be moving to) in the area have finally at least started a development pathway however overall my first impressions are that I see nothing but a fractured sport who show no real interest in developing the kids. One of the clubs in my area have at least started explaining the pathway but even then this club is being accused of pinching kids from teeball. When I heard that comment I just had to find a way to say something to TBAWA because as far as I am concerned comments like this usually start show no interest in the sports development and generally start from on high and work there way down. I turst this isn't the attitude of TBAWA and they are more co-operative in their approach to diamond sports.
As I said in my previous comment teeball is very important and I don't believe in forcing kids out of anything however I think teeball clubs and TBAWA also have a responsibility to the kids that play the sport to guide them or encourage them down the path to the next level whether it be baseball or softball.
ReplyDeleteYour comment of they need to make it more interesting for the kids and then go on to refer to the kids who couldn't hit the ball shows a lack of understanding of the structure. There are 2 level of the sport even before little league, (one that is even endorsed by TBAWA) and that is Rookie Ball followed by Machine Pitch Baseball / Softball then Little League. All those levels are focused at ensuring that the kids hit the ball (there are rules to cover this) and like teeball are very inclusive with rotation of the fields and every else just like teeball.
I agree that even some eductaed people in the sport have spent to much time focusing on the best players and not the whole game, however I would ask TBAWA what responsibility they will take in developing the kids of this great sport considering WA is the only state that is unique in the fact that it has it's own representative body in TBAWA were other state are associated with baseball/softball.
I think no one will kid themselves in believing that the popularity of baseball will for quite sometime if ever compete with cricket, I just disappoints me to see kids who play teeball up to 13 years of age then go on to play cricket.
Maybe TBAWA could look at a compromise and instead of having a under 13's state teeball comp they might start adopting the Rookie ball format from the age of 10 up, maybe then we might see some genuine growth not only in teeball but also baseball/softball.
Wow great news TBAWA. What next under 15’s –or maybe just go straight to U 35’s.
ReplyDeleteThen you can enter them in the Masters comps.
I have coached teeball and now Little League and junior baseball and have done so for over 25 years.
The big picture is kids playing Baseball or Softball after tee ball. The problem is half the kids that come from teeball get a very big shock because they don’t get to transition thru little league. When you have a child leaving teeball at 13 they have to go into U15’s baseball, and some find it to hard and just walk away.
So there goes all the years of coaching, playing and family support in teeball off to another sport.
I think that teeball is good for the development and do a great job, but if you’re not willing to help the kids get to the next level why bother.
You seem to be smothering the sport by playing the kids in teeball for to long.
Forcing kids out of teeball at a certain age it not the answer. I tend to agree though that the TBAWA needs to meet Baseball/Softball halfway and introduce modified rules for older teeballers. Tossball, or 'coach pitch' is an option. Even changing the 'TIME' call to not be made until the ball is in the pitchers possession is a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteSearching the web, I cant seem to find junior baseball clubs that offer Rookie Ball or Machine Pitch. Am sure its there, maybe that needs to be promoted more.
If searching the web for machine pitch all you would need to do is type machine pitch baseball perth and you would find numerous links to clubs who offer it in Perth.
ReplyDeleteHow would you suggest promoting it more?
For years teeball clubs have failed to acknowledge that the sport is a pathway to baseball & softball and while in recent times this has changed within TBAWA, TBAWA still gets critized by some clubs for being to close to baseball / softball.
I agree with your comment that TBAWA should meet the sport halfway in relation to rookie ball etc, but the question is who on TBAWA committee has the guts to make the change and stand up to these clubs who critize them for not just solely focusing on teeball. I have seen far to many teeball clubs who aren't interested in establishing any form of pathway to baseball and softball for various reasons none of which have the interest of the kids development in the sport at heart.
I found web links to two metro clubs that offer it.
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely nothing on the main Baseball WA website about any other junior form of the game except Little League.
In this day and age of the internet, more can be done to let parents know about this Machine Pitch game or Rookie ball if it is as widely available as it has been mentioned.
Please refer to these links - http://www.walittleleague.baseball.com.au/cm/default.asp?SID=665 - this shows you the five Machine Pitch competitions that were played in 2011-12 - these are on the LLWA website.
ReplyDeleteAlso - http://www.walittleleague.baseball.com.au/default.asp?MenuID=-_Minor_League_-/23460/0/ - which has video footage of the game being played.
Machine Pitch is actually called Minor League so perhaps that's where the confusion lies. There is plenty of information on the LLWA website.
I have also noticed that the draft 2012-13 regs are on the LLWA website so all the regs that govern the Minor League game is included in it - and it has its own page at the back.
Seems like there's plenty of info available.
Machine Pitch is a version of Little League - so the info would be on the Little League website. It's called Minor League.
ReplyDeleteHello everyone - this blog was pointed out to me my someone and it makes interesting reading and has obviously sparked some constructive dialogue amongst the people posting comments.
ReplyDeleteThe last couple of comments are correct. Last season we had five Minor League (Machine Pitch) competitions in the metro area and based on my meetings so far this winter I expect there to be one Minor League competition in each of our 8 metro 'charters' this season, so if tee-ball clubs wish to get involved in fielding teams in mid-week competition using a machine pitch there should be something close to everyone.
For the record Little League, which includes Minor League (Machine Pitch) has grown at an average rate of 21% per season since 2008 when LL was introduced, which is a combination of LL being an exciting game at both Major and Minor League levels, plus the improvement of relationships between tee-ball and baseball clubs generally. I have also been very pleased at the number of tee-ball clubs that are now fielding LL teams of their own which has been a significant contributor to the growth.
I am always available to meet with tee-ball club committees if they wish to discuss LL including the Machine Pitch variety and always look forward to receiving emails or phone calls from clubs looking to include transition in their age groups.
If anyone wishes to talk further or to arrange a meeting, I can be contacted at walittleleague@gmail.com
Regards,
David Hayes
Little League District Administrator
BASEBALL WA
Great post David, as someone who knows little about the sport but has three sons that are teeball 'nuts' I have been finding it difficult understanding the terminology and finding out whats available.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching a lot of u13's teeball at Langley park recently, absolutely the right decision was made. I didn't see any hits that went anywhere near Riverside drive, in fact I saw only tight, smart fielding and some great double plays. There were a few home runs, but the majority of the outfielders were catching the hits, or fielding and hitting their cutoff's stopping the runners at 2nd.
ReplyDeleteYou could tell that a lot of the players were also little leaguers (as they should be!) If nothing else, it was intense fielding practice in a highly competitive environment for them.
Most importantly, they were having fun!!!!