My name is Jay Crumley and for the past four seasons, I've had the immense joy of watching my son play in Arlington Southwest Little League (ASWLL). Over this time, I've also been actively involved with his team, volunteering and spending countless hours supporting him and the young athletes on his team. There's nothing quite like witnessing the camaraderie and the life lessons that baseball imparts to kids. I'm reveled in watching the boys growth as their coaches have invested in them and helped them learn, overcome their fears and develop new skills. They have come so far from the days of standing in the corner of the batters box hoping to not get hit by the ball. And some of them are just starting to get over that fear.

However, there is a specific rule being instituted by the ASWLL board that I believe is detrimental to the well-being and development of these children. The specific rule is the pitch count rule that limits a pitcher to 35 pitches and 1 inning maximum per game, and limits a half inning to 35 pitches total. As someone who is deeply invested in not just my son’s experience but the experiences of all the children in the league, I feel compelled to raise my voice.

I understand the purpose of this rule is to get more kids on the mound pitching. As my son is one of the kids that is intended to be helped by this rule, I think it's important to look closely at the likely result of this new rule. My son has a desire to pitch, but has only pithed in one game so far because our schedule made us pitch a couple of kids that we did not typically pitch. In that game my son hit a batter and struggled to throw strikes. He started crying on the mound and had to be removed from the game. He did not want to pitch the rest of the season. We've been working on his pitching and have been hoping to get him back on the mound. His coach has helped him and encouraged him take the mound when he is ready. But the key is, "when he is ready." This new rule would almost require he take the mound every game as he would be one of our top 5 pitchers, even though he gets pretty wild at times. I'm afraid of his reaction if he hits a batter, or two or three. Will he want to continue if his coaches and I put him in a position that they do not feel he is ready for?

Likewise, our boys, and my son specifically, have worked incredibly hard to not be afraid of being hit by pitches. We've made great strides in going to the plate "hunting strikes" instead of waiting for balls. Anyone that's worked with youth baseball knows that those two things are a constant battle. I fear that we will take huge strides backwards if we force young athletes that aren't consistently in control of their pitches onto the mound.

This rule also encourages kids to to throw hard at the expense of control. It is punitive to their teams competitiveness if an athlete throws soft over the plate, rather than hard and out of control. If they throw lots of balls, a 35 pitch inning ends without hitting the 5-run limit. But if they throw hittable strikes, they are more likely to give up the allotted 5 runs. 

None of which even address the most important issue, the safety of our boys when we put pitchers on the mound that our coaches would not have otherwise trusted to pitch. This rule affects morale and safety of our kids on both sides of the diamond. Children learn best from positive experiences and when they have a sense of safety. This rule does not reflect the inclusive spirit of sportsmanship that the board is aiming for.

I propose that the little league board revises this rule to one that puts trust back into our coaches to determine when a young athlete is ready and safe to put onto the mound. One that ensure every child has an equal chance to succeed both on the mound and at the plate, and that decisions regarding playing time are made based on development, not arbitrary criteria. By doing this, we foster a healthier, more encouraging environment for all players.

I am reaching out to fellow parents, volunteers, and supporters of youth sports to join me in appealing to the board to rethink and amend this rule. Together, we can create a more supportive and fair playing field where all kids can gain the full benefits of participating in this beloved sport.

Please sign this petition to urge the little league board to change this rule and help uphold the values and principles that youth sports are supposed to teach. Let's stand together for fairness, opportunity, and the love of the game.