See that cute kid on the right? He's 9 years old. He loves baseball.
At the age of 9, the kids play "Kid Pitch" ball. Anyone who has raised children knows that kid pitch games are notoriously long and tedious. Long. Tedious.
The league just sent us the baseball game schedule for the season. About 50% of his games are to begin at 8 pm. Almost all of those late games are scheduled for school nights.
Let's review:
Kid pitch = loooong games
Player = 9 years old
Bedtime = 9 pm
Game time = 8 pm (the league stipulates that the games should last 1 3/4 hours)
Thoughts, comments, questions?
Feedback Friday - How late is too late when it comes to kid's sports?
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I just commented about this on my FB......my 9yr old has a basketball tourney this weekend with Fri nite game at 8 followed by a 8:30 am game the next morning, and two more potential games that day for a total of 4 games in less than 24 hours! This is crazy to me!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHis baseball schedule is just as bad.
AND I'm assuming some of your 8pm games are like ours and are on school nites!!!
I think it's too late, for sure!!!
Ooh, I remember those. SO glad I don't deal with it anymore. (now it's the same thing for different reasons). Anyway, I thought it was crazy at the time and still do. It's like they play professional sports or something. Don't get me on my soapbox. it's ugly.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd be a little PO'd to say the least. Late bedtime equals cranky kids in my house, so good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteObviously whoever made the schedule was a guy. Moms wouldn't do that to other moms.
ReplyDeleteIt's wrong! We lucked out with our 3 boys, since none of our fields are LIGHTED, we KNEW the last pitch would never be later than 8:15pm when we signed up.
ReplyDeleteIs there any way you could just inquire to the board if there is a chance they would revise the schedule?
This is our first year with baseball---interested to see the schedule now! Do you guys travel to other towns or are all of their games at one diamond? I really wouldn't appreciate the possibility of playing till almost 10 and then driving home, getting ready for bed, settling down after being hyped about a game---you're talking 11 before head hits a pillow!
ReplyDeleteC.R.A.Z.Y. I have a softball girl and she practices or has games 3-4 times a week. She loves the sport but by the time she is half way through the season she is done. I don't think I would be able to keep that late of a schedule - that would mean that younger siblings would be up late. I'd respectfully tell them that it too late for that age level.
ReplyDeleteWho came up with that craaaazy schedule? I'm a firm believer that kids need as much sleep as they can get - my 11 year old has been soo cranky and I know it's because he's trying to stay up as late as his 14 year old brother. Can you parents get together and change up that schedule? Might be worth trying.
ReplyDeleteNot acceptable! Of course there is the whole issue of cranky kids, but what about tired kids at school the next day who don't learn anything because they can't stay awake?! (and then come home and be cranky lol)
ReplyDeleteDo what you can to alert the (male ;)) people who did this, and keep us posted!
Hi :)
ReplyDeleteMy son is nine, so it's our 1st year in kid pitch too. I was just telling another team mom how LLLOOONNGGG the games feel now... almost like back to the first year of t-ball when the coaches had to set up each kiddo at the plate. Our latest games start at 7 and end around 9ish... and I thought that was crazy! That means it's after 9:30 till there in bed. I was beginning to think that I'm the only parent left who's kiddos go to bed around 8pm. Got to love baseball though :-)
That does seem really late. My brothers all play lacrosse, but their games are always at like 6p to allow time for homework, etc. You would think this baseball league would take into account that these children have school and such.
ReplyDeleteWAAAAYYYY too late! Ending at 8 is max for my kids. Not so bad in the summer, but during school NO WAY! How frustrating for you.
ReplyDeleteLucky for us softball games for your 9 year old are at 6:30 and only last 1 hour. She loves it so much that I'm sure we would just deal with it if the games were later. How often are your games? Sport schedules are crazy, I called for a babysitter the other night (she is 15). She couldn't babysit because she had a soccer game that started at 10 P.M.! Sure it was a friday night, but are you kidding? No wonder our kids are stressed out.
Oh my goodness, that is so stinking late!! I don't have any kids myself yet, but I can't even imagine doing that! I would think, ideally, the latest start time for a game should be 6:00 p.m.. That way there's still some "down time" at home afterwards instead of having to just ship all the kids straight to bed. Certainly a 7:00 p.m. start time is the latest there should ever be!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why they start these games so late on school nights. My son is 10. We just had the draft on tuesday and he has practice on saturday, so we'll find out his schedule then. Last season we started at 7pm. I hope we keep the same schedule. When my other son was playing his games would end at ten when he was 12. It's too late.
ReplyDeleteI was always grateful my kids didn't play baseball. Swim meets were bad enough but tennis usually rocked. Fast and furious.
ReplyDeletePamela
You're right, a pile of unread mags IS a delight! I hope I have time to jump into them this weekend. Thanks for stopping by Windy Poplars today! It was nice to meet you :-)
ReplyDeleteMy son is 5 and we have a game tonight at 7:30pm. At least it is on a Friday, but 8:00pm is WAY to late!
ReplyDeleteAbsurd! Who makes these schedules and what are they thinking!!
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely crazy. My almost 9yo grandson is doing kid pitch little league this year. I'm enjoying the heck out out of it after all those years of tball, coach pitch, no scoring so everyone wins, etc. Now we score and steal bases and wear real uniforms. I love it! Our games start at 6pm. Thank God! 8 may have been a deal breaker.
ReplyDeleteCRAAAAZY!!!!! It's not even fun at that point.....good luck!
ReplyDeleteWe have yet to experience this because our son is only 6 (almost 7) and still in coach pitch this year. I've heard that the beginning of the kid pitch years are hard years...for the parents! Obviously, you've pointed out that its pretty hard for kiddos that need sleep too! I think its awful that this is how they have it set up. If its anything like the situations around here, its due to the lack of ball field and gym space. Therefore, they have to squeeze in games and practices when they can. Doesn't make it right, but I'm sure that's why its so late. :( I have a neighbor with a jr. high daughter that has had practices in a gym WAY on the other side of the city, until 10 at night...all because of gym space issues.
ReplyDeleteAlso, we have realized that we are strict on bedtimes, but many of the other parents in our area are not. They're shocked that my 1st grader goes down at 8. Sorry for the long comment!
We have the same issue here, and I think it is too late. To make matters worse, my husband travels for work a bunch, which means I need to haul my 2 five year olds along...and if it is too late for my 8 year old, you can imagine what I think about having two tired (AND therefore getting whiny!) 5 year olds.
ReplyDeleteMakes getting everyone up the next morning so I can get to work AWFUl!
um, yeah, I don't think that would fly well for our family - yikes!! I'd totally be heading up a task force for revising that type of schedule!
ReplyDeleteCrazy. I was just talking to someone about this the other day. She has 3 kids and was at a sporting event until 10:30 the other night on a school night. Not a chance in my house.
ReplyDeleteI'd be all over that. Someone needs to hear that parents aren't ok with that. As a teacher (back in the day), I wasn't sympathetic with kids who were tired because they were at the ball field late. I was asked by a group of parents not to give homework on certain nights because of ball games. oh- heck no!
ReplyDeleteMy kids are in bed between 7:30-8:00. I am shocked when I'm out at the store (after my kids are in bed) and I see parents out with a heard of little ones. No wonder the kids are cranky and fussy.
I don't understand the league's rationale at all. It makes no sense. Just like your kids, my daughter's bed time is 9 o'clock sharp. I would be furious if she had an evening sporting event on a school night. I don't know how it is at your house, but it's a train wreck when she doesn't get her sleep at ours.
ReplyDelete