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We all know those teams. The ones that when you start the game the kids immediately start screaming their chants to try to pysch the other team out. My personal favorites are “3-2, whatcha gonna do, walk him, walk him” or “bases loaded just for you!”…or even better “I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN, I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN, I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN.” Nothing, to me, says sportsmanship like a bunch of 10 year olds SCREAMING at the top of their lungs every time our pitcher winds up for a pitch (*note the sarcasm). So my question to you is: What are your thoughts on baseball chants for the dugouts? Yay or Nay?
Shall we discuss?
Baseball Chants for Little League Players
The Yay Side
The “yay-ers” might argue it’s all in good fun. Ehhh…
It’s meant to build comradery. Perhaps…
It’s part of every sport. *shrug*
They’re just cheering their friends on. True.
It’s “cute”. Is it really though?
It forces kids to work through pressure. Aren’t you always under pressure in baseball?
The Nay Side
The “nay sayers” (myself included) would argue…
IT’S OBNOXIOUS.
You expect it more in a rec league, not travel.
It’s bad sportsmanship. Depending on the chant.
It should be done tastefully.
It takes kids minds out of the game and more into thinking what they’re going to “chant” next.
…and did I mention…it’s obnoxious? 🙂
The end results…
For my team and our coaches personally, we don’t let our kids constantly and incessantly chant while in the dugout. It’s annoying. It takes their mind off the game. And it’s unnecessary. They are there to play baseball, not be cheerleaders.
Do we let them cheer their teammates on? ABSOLUTELY. But in regular ways like “Go Andrew, you got this!” or “Let’s go Andrew, bring Caden home!” or “C’mon Andrew, a little sooner next time!”
We don’t try to play mind games with the pitcher. We don’t try to distract anyone. And honestly…we like keeping it classy on the field.
SO–if you are a team that let’s their kids scream every time the pitcher winds up for a pitch or encourages your kids to scream at the top of their lungs when bases are loaded…cool, but just know that our team won’t be doing that…and me, as “that baseball mom”….I’m probably judging you a little from the other side wondering why in God’s name you enjoy listening to that noise–does your kid come home hoarse every day–with a sore throat–exhausted from all that noise? I’m just here to watch my kids play ball.
The last game we were at a team was doing that and the funniest part about it was the things that they were chanting didn’t even match up to what was going on in the game–another point that the kids lose focus and become more worried about chanting than actually watching what’s happening. The coach on the other team, an assistant, said he wished they’d stop doing that…meanwhile the Head Coach is encouraging them to yell louder and louder to try to psych out our pitcher, my son (#classy).
Point is–it’s uncool. It makes your team look petty…and did I mention…it’s obnoxious.
If your team does allow chants–at what age should they stop?
To me, once your kid hits a travel level, the chants should stop. These kids should be focused on the game and less on the chanting.
Should team coaches allow taunting chants?
Nothing screams poor sportsmanship to me like taunting another team. If you do allow chants, consider keeping them positive rather than meaning to taunt the other team.
What are your thoughts? To Chant or Not to Chant…that is the question 🙂
What are some good team chants for baseball?
The answer. None. Don’t do it. It’s annoying. Just stick with encouraging them to support their teammates and cheering for them. Team chants are annoying and take away from the game. Stop it while they’re young. Just my humble opinion 😉
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