Sandlot Day

via stubencourier.com

Bath, NY -- On Friday June 17th Bath Little League in Bath, NY participated in the SUNY Youth Sports Institute "Sandlot Day" program.  Each year at the end of the regular little league season Bath offers an opportunity for those youth who are leaving the program due to age requirements the chance to play one last game.  This has been a game that the kids have come to enjoy, however this year the league chose to mix it up a little bit and to follow the SUNY Youth Sports Institutes Sandlot Day format, which offered the kids the ability to play baseball the way it use to be played.

Sandlot Day was developed by the State University of New York's Youth Sports Institute as a means to get away from Parents and Coaches having control of the game and giving it back to the kids.

via timesunion.com

You could go the "Field of Dreams" route, the overworked metaphor that's been used in stories about anything from a playing field for a wheelchair softball team to the building of a speedskating oval in Canada.

It seems to fit here.

Chris Hess builds a wiffle ball field in the backyard of the brick-and-vinyl Glenville ranch he shares with his mom.

He spends $1,200 on an electronic scoreboard, lines the field with white spray paint every week, keeps a bucket of those slender yellow bats in his plywood dugout.

He builds it and 80 to 90 guys come throughout the season, arguing about whether the Cardinals should have tried for third on an overthrow at first. After a long day working at Pottery Barn Kids at Crossgates Mall, he rushes home to watch games unfold in his backyard, spending his night updating the Hess Wiffle Ball website. And, oh, if he doesn't get the stats up fast enough, there will be hell to pay. This is where running a highly competitive wiffle ball league gets stressful.

"I took Tim Donovan's "Sandlot" recommendation for Thursday's practice. My girls minor softball team (8-10 years old) took hitting practice for the first 50 minutes. Then spent the remainder of practice playing kickball, where they formed their own teams, made up their own rules and basically managed themselves with little adult interaction from the dugout. It was a huge success and a great idea! They weren't thinking about it, they just did it. Did they have fun ... YES! It was a nice change for them and they actually practiced their skills without being directed, like base running, stealing, etc."

Jim Kocik
Baldwinsville Little League

On May 29, the Carman Little League in Rotterdam, NY held a Sandlot Day that attracted around 30 kids of various ages.  Jed Ingersoll, president of the league, was introduced to the idea through a New York Times article citing the SUNY Youth Sports Institute and its idea for taking one day out of the season to give the game completely to the kids.  The league firmly believes in the need for adults to back off every once in a while so the players can build a sense of ownership and, subsequently, a passion for the game.  "Today there is so much parent involvement.  Kids are constantly told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. We wanted to give the kids a chance to figure things out for themselves" said Ingersoll. 

To kick off this event, the Carman little leaguers picked captains, chose up sides, and took the field, some in their team uniforms but most in street clothes.  One parent, watching from the bleachers, was surprised at how capable the kids were of picking their own teams without any hard feelings.  The parents also enjoyed watching their kids play with new teammates and mixed ages.  Ingersoll was pleased to see that "the older kids gave the little kids confidence by playing with them and allowing them to play all positions.  They didn't always stick them in the outfield."  After nearly three hours of playing, they had to wrap it up, though the participants insisted that the league put another one together in August.  The day was a great success and the Carman Little League intends to make Sandlot Day a regular part of each season to come.    

Sandlot All-Stars in a league of their own; local youths keep it simple on the baseball diamond

By PHIL FORTE
For The Saratogian

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- No registration fees, insurance waivers, or expensive jerseys.

No lineups, aces, batting averages or on base percentages.

No ERA's, win-loss records, errors or state championships to worry about either.

Just some good old-fashioned baseball.

It was last summer when a few local dads decided that once their children's little league season had come to a conclusion, baseball season was not over yet.

Dan Jolie, Bill Bergan and Mike Sefransky all had the idea to advance their children's baseball season into the summer, on their own terms, though.

It was then when the Sandlot All-Stars were born.

June 13, 2010

by Mark Hyman
March 26, 2010

We had a great day yesterday.  The weather was perfect, and we had about 30 kids show up for Sandlot Day.

We scheduled major leaguers from 12:00pm-2:00pm, and Minor leaguers from 2:00pm-4:00pm.  A handful of Major leaguers stayed the entire 4 hours.  We supplied a couple of bags of equipment, and even brought wiffleball sets, but the kids wanted to play hardball.

The cool thing was watching the kids, especially the major leaguers, do everything themselves - picking captains, choosing sides, setting lineups, etc.  The kids let each other hit too, rather than trying to just blow pitches past each other.  The major leaguers were really good with the younger kids - moving up to pitch to them and letting them hit as well.

The BCLL board approved funding hot dogs and drinks for the kids, so we kept everyone fed during the event.

Many parents stayed to watch, and I think everyone involved really enjoyed the day and thought it was a great concept.  I would expect more kids to participate next year.

Thanks again for the supplies and for pushing the idea.

- Derek, Bear Country Little League

            


"It's great to see youth baseball played the way it should be, run by the players, for the players."



"I truly appreciate the opportunity to go back.  It fits into our theme this year of going retro.  We're using all traditional uniforms from the 50's in our league.  Sandlot Day is part of our roots.  Baseball is a game that is played and is learned by doing it with your friends.  I'm tired of seeing empty fields that we once filled with pick-up games.  Sandlot Day may be a good start to filling up those fields again."



"Lets Put The Fun back in the Game!"



"When I was young and was roaming the streets of Queens NY with my friends looking to play a game of baseball, football, hockey amongst ourselves or a game with kids from another neighborhood. We were just having fun. It was about being together as a group leaving reality for a little while and play without anyone bothering us.  Whatever sport was in season and we were pumped about getting up a game. We had our favorite sports teams and players and we would make believe we were those teams and players sometimes. I couldn't hit the ball two telephone poles long but Bobby Murcer could, so I would be Bobby Murcer or Mickey Mantle when I needed a big hit. Today its about the money and all the other nonsense that is part of the sports celebrity. We didn't think about that back then. I hope the kids today get a chance to feel the way I did, and can escape into that world for a while, the way I did, way back when."


"I believe Sandlot day is a fantastic way to bring baseball back to the roots of why it's Americas Pastime. Just like it was when we were all growing up. No grownups to cloud the water. No "loud parents" making it about them. It's all about the kids. Show up, pick teams..... and PLAY.... Win or lose... guess what... play again...and again and again. We all played till our parents had to call us in for dinner. It was from sun up to sun down in my neighborhood. How about yours ? Now with video games, computers, texting among other distractions. The kids of today have gotten away from that.. Most of them never even did anything like this. So by creating Sandlot day... This may be the introduction to a great pastime that this generation needs. Great job guy's... keep up the good work. I can't wait to have ours... Time to PLAY BALL !!!!! Tell Mom were going to be late for dinner."



"Grabbing all the kids in the neighborhood and enjoying an afternoon of baseball or softball in the backyard or empty lot is a fond memory for most parents, but happens less and less due to the hectic schedules of today's youth.  SUNY Youth Sport Institute's "Sandlot Day" program is a great way to bring back the fun of kids being kids playing a game they enjoy.  West Corners Baseball and Softball supports and participates in Sandlot Day".




"I love this idea. Over the past few years I have tried to "organize" a similar program during the summer when the Little League season ends. We call it pick-up night... Every Wednesday night during the summer anyone can show up to play pickup games. Typically, I would bring an equipment bag and bucket of balls and then we would let the two youngest players pick sides and play. Sometimes a father or two would play in the outfield if we are short players. I think my two sons look forward to this activity more than the regular season games."