Most of us know quite a bit about baseball: professional, Major League baseball, that is. Little League baseball and other children's baseball leagues are significantly different. The rules are different. The fielding techniques are different. Ultimately, the goals are different. You might say that little league baseball is a different game entirely. It is baseball for kids.

For example: many children's baseball leagues have a Player Participation Rule. It states that every player that shows up for a game must take the field at least every other inning. No player, no matter how inept, can be left to sit in the dugout for any two straight innings. He must take the field for a full inning, at least every other inning. A manager that fails to do this forfeits the game. (Try enforcing that in the Majors!)

Major League Baseball is a business. It's ultimate goal is to make money for the owners. Little League Baseball is an educational undertaking. It's goal is to instill good character traits in the baseball players.

In Little League baseball, the welfare of the players is (or should be) paramount. In Major League baseball, the baseball players are well-paid but replaceable commodities. They are bought, sold, traded, and discarded with no thought about their feelings or welfare. This is as it should be. It's a business.

Little League baseball players are kids.
Their sense of who they are, and their sense of self-worth, are still evolving.
Their hopes are easily raised.
Their boundless enthusiasm is easily aroused.
Their fragile self-esteem is easily crushed.

Major League baseball players are mature adults.
Major League baseball players are in it for the money.
They know what the deal is, and they accept it.
Major League baseball players have huge, indestructible confidence and impressive, unshakable determination.

As you watch or help out in little league or other kids' baseball games, you may wonder why the baseball team's manager makes some of the decisions that he does. Remember, it's not the Pro's. It is a different game entirely. Little League baseball players cannot be treated like Professional baseball players.