During my era, and we played some pretty healthy baseball, we had to spread our season over June, and well into July. This was due mainly to the use of the Gladstone Diamond for the city league teams that played and practiced there. The youth teams comprised of Midget (ages 10-14) and Legion (ages 14-18). While I don’t remember playing on any Pee Wee teams, I do remember coaching them in my summer/college years and we played against each other, never traveling out of town for competition. Our practices occurred in the mornings for two hours with skills/fundamentals taught the first hour and an intersquad game played the second hour. Ask Murray Peters for details if you don’t believe me!

The point that I’m trying to make is for changing to a longer season. As a spectator, it’s really fun to have the time to go down and watch games on a regular basis, however, it is also noted that there is a tremendous ‘push’ for parents to ‘squeeze’ so many activities into a shorter, packaged-season.

Having a hopper full of baseball experience, I would much rather see these games go into July, or through it. There would be plenty of time for tournaments and championship games at season’s end. There would be plenty of time for folks to pursue some vacation plans inbetween and still stay ‘in the loop’. The players could practice on their own, or even have team practices once or twice per week if needed. If the players really enjoyed the game, they would relish the thought of getting to play more than one month, giving up the notion that the current season is really a ‘track meet’ of sorts.

Personally, I hate to see that diamond sit idle for 11 months out of the year; I’d also like to see our players continue through their senior year in high school (Am Legion program) like other surrounding communities support. This may even lead to a city town-team!

It is obvious that the other teams we compete against would have to subscribe to the same scheduling ideas. I’m not sure about the women’s softball objectives, but they may entertain the same schedule…take the tension out of the ‘rat race’ and have some great activities for the entire summer. Between going to my Dad’s games, my brother’s games and playing my games all summer, I remember this time to be one of the most cherished moments of my entire life (it also allowed me to play competitively until 40 years of age, our season starting in May, into Sept.).

Your objectives will dictate what you want for your kids; make sure they are balanced over time to provide a healthy, competitive environment, and one that parents can fully support without feeling stretched in so many different directions. If the Huskers can switch to the Big 10 (12), changes on a smaller magnitude are even easier.

No doubt, the season is running and run with it you must! The time to plan next year’s schedule is now and not after the next season starts. You wouldn’t think that such a small community would have such huge problems, but hey, if it benefits the kids, so be it. Maybe this could have been easier stated if we could just spread the same amount of games over twice the season’s length! Best of Luck to every player, coach, fan and parent. Be thankful that the kids are playing because the alternatives are even more stressfull.

Something has got to give…