Little League WS Debate

The end of summer usually means most youngsters are finishing up their little league seasons.   For a select group of teams, their summer seasons finish up in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the site of the Little League World Series.  Millions tune in to ESPN to watch some of the best little league players and teams in the world.  It’s a tremendous experience for the young baseball players involved but it also is a great opportunity to increase exposure to the sport in an era when kids have so many other things occurring in their daily lives.  

Lamade Field - Williamsport, PA

However, the purpose of this post is to debate whether or not the Little League WS is a true testament of Little League baseball.  On one side of the debate, many feel the Little League WS is overrated.  This argument stems from the fact that there are so many 13 year old players in the WS whose birthdays happen to fall before the cut-off date.  Typically, 13 year olds have graduated to a 90 foot diamond with fences reaching far beyond the 200 ft mark at Williamsport.  Many have noticed this year the amount of homeruns that not only clear the fences, but have soared well beyond that 200ft marker.  Another part of this debate is that the players in the Little League WS are not a true representation of the best little league players in the country.  Many who tune in to the Ripken World Series for example (same ages as LLWS), will notice the level of play is much more competitive.  Other non-LLWS advocates feel the series is tainted because they allow so many teams in from so many countries that the talent level is watered down. 

Now, for the PRO-LLWS advocates out there:  This group feels that the LLWS draws attention to the sport in a positive way.  Many youngsters may want to get involved in baseball just because they see kids on ESPN playing the game and having fun.  As mentioned earlier, in an era when kids have the internet and video games etc, going out and playing baseball doesn’t always register as an outlet for fun and entertainment.  Kids do not typically go out and play sandlot baseball as this has become a thing of the past.  So the LLWS provides youngsters the opportunity to get involved in baseball and discover why it is known as America’s pastime.  

Let the debate begin.  Post your comments, questions, concerns, thoughts???