Banning "chatter" in Little League Baseball
"Hey batta....hey batta....hey batta....SWING batta!" How many of us have enjoyed this simple baseball chant at some time in our lives? It has been said at ballparks throughout the country for over 100 years, and now a bunch of unrealistic, overprotective parents want to ban "chatter" during little league games. It is a trend that is happening everywhere from Cincinnati to Sacramento, and little by little, this unique part of baseball lore is disappearing.
Why is it that people want to take this part of the game away? The most prevailing answer is that the soccer moms (and dads, they're out there), want their children to just play and "have fun." For over a hundred years, little league baseball has taught kids numerous lessons about life, including teamwork, competitiveness, and overcoming adversity. One lesson that should not be taught is this theory that "we're all winners all the time." Many times in life, one must overcome obstacles in the face of competition, often times unfriendly competition. To pretend that everyone is always going to encourage you and support you during tough times is completely unrealistic. Parents cannot protect their children twenty four hours a day, and the baseball field is the perfect, supervised setting that provides them a safe way to learn (on their own) about some not-so-friendly things.