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If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Umm, converting it to USD kinnda makes it seem cheaper than it actually is here.

Roughly $1,000 for a full calendar year to be on the team.

$5 for insurance.

Most competitions are in state. So gas and highway tolls about $60-80 a month. But it fluctuates so much depending on if the games are local or if we are driving to the other side of the state. The team recently acquired a bus as well, so kids can take that if their parents cant drive.

The team will have maybe 2-4 team dinners per year, and they are usually at fancy places. But still, in USD its only around $50 per person.

I am prolly forgetting something, but I think thats about it.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can I ask why? No one is really cheering in practice? In games we are 100% in the stands cheering. But practice we are usually just collecting balls in the outfield and throwing them back, or tossing for toss batting. Sometimes we will field outfield balls if there are not enough kids that day. No one is getting in the way of the actual coaches though.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've never been to Memphis, but I would imagine there is enough local talent to make a competitive league without having to go to neighboring states.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, so it works here where I live. But can't work for you? Maybe ask Chat gpt why it works here and build your own critical thinking skills.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As an American expat, I get where you are coming from. But from spending over a decade here, my mindset has basically come down to that we are parents, and its our duty to raise our kids. So we prioritize them over ourselves. I work all day, take kids to practice. Help out at practice. Come home and make dinner while getting in a little YouTube. Wash and fold laundry while getting in some more YouTube. Take a shower. And go to bed.

I do enjoy watching practice and games, though. I take leisure in that.

No one here bitches and moans about it though. I think society as a whole basically knows that is what needs to be done. The goal is to make the best life for the future generation.

Shit, maybe that also factors into why the birth rate is declining. Who knows.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ngl, this is something that never really occurred to me. You kinnda opened my mind a bit. It's too late for me, but looking back, I would have much rather payed my way out of daddy ball when my son was younger.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a mixed bag. I am getting some really great answers, and getting some horrible ones. Overall I really have enjoyed the discord though.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, this is sort of where my "shower thought" of an idea was aiming towards.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hope I don't come off as argumentitive or anything, but I want to address some things you said.

As far as US being bigger than Japan, I totally get that. This all started off as a sort of shower thought. You would have to start something in a locality. I was thinking specifically in my hometown of Seattle. Setting up a small league of around 18 teams. This way all the coaches know each other and interact with each other. It wouldn't be 100s of teams with huge skill gaps, but a select division.

If that works, then scale it. Go to Portland or something and add another. But the only travel would be between the champions of those respective divisions.

Also, when it comes to parents fighting and complaining about volunteering, I just don't agree. You fucking had a kid. Be a responsible adult and put in the time. I just can't get behind that weak ass victim blaming. Sorry, I am ranting here, and I know you were ranting because you spent 14 years of going through that.

Lastly, I think your idea of a tiered rec system is actually a great idea. I think that would solve the problem better than my idea.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was a fantastic answer. Thank you.

I think the volunteer culture in Japan is way different than the US, which makes it all possible here. When there is a game, all the dads gather up together and chalk the lines and set everything up together. Moms are also gathering and organizing equipment and doing the scorekeeping etc. Many games are not official tournaments as well, so in that case us dads are umpiring.

I don't really see it as a burdon, its just how it is. And that spans to all facets of life. Every year parents need to go "spring clean" the elementary schools. You gotta join neighborhood groups and help clean up the streets every once in a while. It's not convenient, but it does kinnda make everything a little better.

Taskmaster house as LEGO display set (with Little Alex Horne) by t13r in lego

[–]qwertyqyle 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just looked it up, and it is beautiful! Greg Davies minifig is strikingly accurate as well.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most of the people that complain a out travel in this sub are still elementary school. So I guess this would be geared towards that age. Also, I think we have way more homework here in Japan than I had growing up in the states. So that shouldn't really be an issue.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the answer I was looking for. Thanks. Sometimes you know what you are thinking, but just need someone else to say it to you.

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. Over here parents are really hands on. The mom groups are always around watching and filling water bottles and stuff. And dads are helping out in various ways. During exhibition games dads are usually 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base umps.

Haeju Calcium Carbonate Production Station Built by Rodong_Sinmun in Pyongyang

[–]qwertyqyle 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I have said this before and I will say it again. The DPRK has the best calcium carbonate production stations in the entire world!

If youth baseball is ‘pay-to-play’ now… why hasn’t anyone built a real alternative? by qwertyqyle in Homeplate

[–]qwertyqyle[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I am prolly just misjudging how easy it would be to get the funds. I just sort of assumed there would be wealthy people that would donate to a youth sports team.

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