Tim Ahrens: Learning, not winning should be goal of Little League

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.daily-journal.com/archives/dj/display.php?id=417645

Granted, it was no Christmas, birthday or Halloween, but the first day of Little League practice got a lot of love from me as a youngster.

I still remember the first practice like it was yesterday. My coach had us take batting practice and I sprayed the ball all around the diamond. Hitting was never a problem for me until the baseballs started to curve.

As for fielding, well, I could hit. Some might say I was a good catcher, but they were just being nice. Foul pop-ups were the root of all evil and my weenie arm couldn't have thrown out your grandma trying to steal second.

Baseball ranks high in my childhood memories, so you can understand my excitement now that my 9-year-old twins are starting Little League. We've been through the T-ball and Minor League years; it's time now for the real thing. snip

I hope coaches keep that in mind when they take the fields this season. Sure, winning is great but the impression you leave on the kids will be remembered far longer than the score of the game.