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The T-ball division of RAA, with four to six teams a year, continues to debate the merits of keeping score. As of now we do keep score but there are other leagues that do not. Front Royal T-ball is in its fourth year of not keeping score so that the emphasis is on a fun learning experience for the kids rather than winning and losing records.
I believe it is good to have some debate and thought put into what we want out of sports. On the professional level we see grossly overpaid athletes. We’re bombarded with hype from the media in such a way that the game is overshadowed by the hype. The bottom line is that major markets or wealthy owners are able to buy championships. At some point it seems that the game is only ftin if we or our team wins. I think this atmosphere filters down to our level of amateur play. Our younger divisions such as T-ball, U-6 or U-8 are seen as farm teams for the older leagues. We drill them now so that in years to come we’ll have winning teams. The emphasis is on winning.
I think there are other values to playing sports that are overshadowed by our obsession with scores and winning. There’s the camaraderie and teamwork that come from playing together. There is the healthy habit of getting out and exercising. There’s the development of new skills and the confidence that goes with those new skills. There’s the understanding that some people are more skilled than me, some less, but we’re part of the same team.
Most of all I hope we develop a love of the game, whatever it may be, rather than a love of winning. As we grow older I think we see that it’s a fine line between how often we win
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