Changing rules: Curious case in Tyrone

Changing

rules: Curious case in Tyrone

Sportsmanship or how

to bend the rules:

I have spent the past

several years involved in youth baseball in Tyrone. We

play each other and teams from Fayetteville. I've seen a

lot of strange things over the years in regards to rules

and what not. But nothing like what I witnessed during

this year's baseball season.

The Tyrone Braves had a

record of nine wins and one loss and were in first place

in the 11-12 Park (American) League. Another team, the

Fayetteville Phillies, had a record of eight wins, one

loss and one tie. Clearly, the Tyrone Braves should have

been given first place. But lo and behold, the rules were

changed.

The Phillies were allowed

to continue playing their tie game on another day

(although the game had already been ruled complete

because it continued to the 2 hour and 15 minute time

limit allowed in the rules). They scored a run and the

tie was erased and they were given the win, bringing

their record to nine wins and one loss.

This gave the Phillies the

exact same record as the Braves, yet first place was

awarded to the Phillies. I know this seems trivial in the

grand scheme of things, but what does this teach our

kids? If you don't like the rules, don't obey them,

change them?

I thought youth sports was

to teach sportsmanship and help kids build self-esteem

and character. This hardly seems like the way to do it!

Ryan K. Gunnin

Tyrone