As if coaching T-ball and high school girls’ basketball was enough.
Now, I have decided to coach Blast Ball.
You know, the league that prepares 3- and 4-year-olds for T-ball.
The little munchkins step up to the plate, hit the ball, and run to first. When they land on the base (that is more like a pillow), it squeaks and their at bat is finished.
Everyone plays the infield, and everyone is on the same team.
It’s comedic if anything.
I mean, we are starting them so young that one of the requirements to play is that they no longer wear diapers.
Really, it’s a great idea.
Pre-schoolers are constantly looking for something to do, and this allows them to run and hit — two things parents always are telling them not to do in the house.
What makes it really great for me is the fact my 3-year-old son, Mitch, is on my team.
When I played ball my dad was an assistant coach, and I always looked forward to the day I could coach my son or daughter.
However, at the time I figured I would be 32 and my son or daughter would be 7.
Instead, I got an early start and so do the kids today.
When I was 7, playing two sports at the same time almost was considered child abuse.
Now, if a child plays less than one sport he or she is “missing out.”
We have created a culture of weekends with endless volleyball matches, and summers with endless baseball, softball, basketball, wrestling, and (insert any other sport here) events.
It’s not bad, just interesting.
As a kid, I would have loved to play sports literally year-round.
Now, I think it can be overkill, but that is a story for a different day.
Today I focus on Blast Ball with a coach’s meeting at 5 p.m.
I’m excited because I heard one kid can swing the bat like a pro.
Problem is, I’m not sure he’s potty-trained.