Little League funding a bad call for city

I serve on the board of directors for the Destin Little League, and I am completing my second year in this position. In addition, I operate the concessions in conjunction with my wife. However, I deliver the following comments as an individual.

My son has been a participant in the Destin Little League for several years. Therefore, it is with some deliberation that I ask the city of Destin to no longer support this organization with funds from the city coffers.

City funds should be used to provide the widest support for city residents as reasonably possible. Even when the city chooses to provide support to a particular organization, it should do so only when convinced that the charitable organization will use those funds in a manner that is equally beneficial to all participants.

Perhaps it is time for the city to consider withholding those funds, placing them into escrow and using them to organize and promote a Destin Youth Baseball League, or distribute those funds to the YMCA and allow that worthy organization to organize a baseball league.

Presently, the Destin Little League rules only require a coach to play a child two of six innings or one-third of a baseball game. Many children spend two-thirds of their baseball-playing years watching other children play baseball, rather than actually developing a love of the game.

At the YMCA, the athletics director requires that all children play an equal amount of time. Often this decision has more to do with the relationships among parents and coaches than other considerations such as talent and attention to the concept of fair, equal and impartial play of the resident athletes.

I believe, and am willing to bet many others would agree, that the primary purpose of a youth baseball league is recreation and enjoyment.

Undoubtedly, there are gifted players on each team whose parents may have aspirations of developing that talent into a Division 1 college career and possibly even a professional baseball debut. However, this is beyond the scope of a youth baseball league, especially one that derives so much of its support from city revenue and other forms of support.

Outstanding athletes of this sport have other opportunities to display their talent. For those who may be unaware of the phenomenon, there are private baseball clubs known as “travel teams” that are wholly supported by the participants. These players are very good and take their baseball quite seriously. There are also middle school and high school baseball teams that are available to the talented players.
It has been stated from the outset of my time on the Destin Little League Board of Directors that “we are here for the children.”

Frankly, I don’t see it.

The day after the parade, many managers and coaches wear their dreams on their sleeves and treat the season as a “race for the pennant,” with recreation, enjoyment and fairness sacrificed on the altar of no-holds-barred competition.

It is time for a change.

If the Destin Little League is going to continue accepting the largess of the city through the use of city parks, city financial support and direct monetary contributions to the Destin Little League, then it should be provided only with a commitment by league official to play each child equally.

As a parent of an average baseball player in his last year of league play, it is too late for my child to benefit from such a requirement. However, I think it would be good for future generations if the city attached conditions to its contributions in the interest of all players.

The Destin Little League is too influenced by self interest to ever be self regulating on this matter.

Craig Tingle is a Destin resident and business owner.