By Ken Reed
One of my favorite sayings is “There’s too much adult in youth sports.”
It’s sad but oh so true. Adults and their oversized egos continue to ruin the youth sports experience for way too many kids.
The latest example comes from Little League baseball where the Jackie Robinson West team from Chicago has been stripped of its American championship by Little League administrators because the adults involved with the team cheated on Little League’s boundary rules. The team created an inaccurate map of its boundaries and tried to obtain extra territory from neighboring leagues.
Little League International CEO Stephen D. Keener said it was shameful that adults had tainted a child’s sport.
“This is a heartbreaking decision,” Keener said.
“What these players accomplished on the field and the memories of and lessons they have learned during the Little League World Series tournament is something the kids can be proud of, but it is unfortunate that the actions of adults have led to this outcome. … No team can be allowed to attempt to strengthen its team by putting players on their roster that live outside their boundaries.”
Another disgraceful WAACy (win-at-all-costs) youth sports outcome.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans
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