Connecticut District 10 Little League: CT Dist. 10 News: Little League Careers Not Easy For Military Familys

Monday, July 9
Little League Careers Not Easy For Military Familys

Thanks to the DOLCOM parents who stepped up and voiced their displeasure with the way some parents handled themselves during recent games. I am a military mbr, a coach, and a former all-star coach who had an opportunity to play DOLCOM last year. I knew I was deploying soon after All-Stars were done with and I knew that many of the kids we were playing against didn’t have their dad or mom in the stands because they were either deployed or standing the watch so we could enjoy the fun associated with LL Baseball. I asked my kids when they ran out on the field during introductions to look the player from DOLCOM in the eye and shake their hand and thank them. I found something very interesting this year as a Tournament Director, many folks don’t even know what DOLCOM stands for or what it’s associated with. To those who don't know it does not excuse their actions or inappropriate behavior, but let me take a moment to give you an idea of what a military child goes through as they try to play baseball. Most military members deploy for at least half the year – that means they are gone on and off for at least 6 months. Most are usually stationed in one location for 2 to 4 years. In my kids particular situation my oldest has played in 4 LL and my second son has played in 3. They will never play with the same group of kids from year to year and definitely will never play with the kids they played T-Ball with, they will always have to prove themselves every 2 to 4 years when Mom or Dad is transferred, their Dad (if deployed) can never be their coach or be there to put their arm around their son or daughter after a tough game, they aren’t there to play catch or help them pitch or take them to the batting cage, etc. I won’t even get into what it is like to be a parent who is deployed, a parent who checks his e-mail whenever they get a chance to see how their son or daughter does, a parent who feels the pain much more when their child struggles and a parent who can't be there to feel the joy when the child succeeds. I could keep going, but I’ll stop and applaud the boys and girls from DOLCOM and I’ll remind/ask the parents of opposing teams who are fortunate enough to be in attendance at all-star games in the future to take a moment and think about the men, women, and children who make up the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard – the people who keep us free, who protect us, and who stand the watch so we can enjoy a Saturday at the LL Field. We are free because of the men and women who choose to protect and defend us and there is a cost to doing that, a cost many will never comprehend, but hopefully some will grow to understand.


Bill Kelly (Military Officer and Proud LL Parent)