Before tonight's World Series Game, the MLB brought out two little kids, a boy and a girl, and donated 4 million dollars for developing youth baseball programs. Half of the money was given to the girl to further promote opportunities for women to play baseball... WHAT?!?!?!
I am all for huge corporations donating money to women's athletics, in fact, I wish more would take part, but as a softball coach, this is incredibly painful to hear. Girls should be encouraged to play sports, but they should not be encouraged to play baseball. It's not because they aren't capable of playing the sport or competing with boys, (I know some softball players who could kick some baseball players butts) but there are NO opportunities beyond Little League for girls to play baseball. Not a single women has EVER received a scholarship to college to play baseball or a contract to play professionally, and I honestly don't think this barrier will be crossed or cut down because it isn't a barrier. Softball is the baseball equivalent for girls and it is a better all around environment for them. Athletically, developmentally, and socially.
Parents who let their daughters play baseball past the age of 6 are idiots. Why not set up your daughter for success by having her learn a sport where she can excel and have a future in? Switching from baseball to softball can be difficult for because of the weight of the ball, and the skills are different. A baseball swing and a softball swing are similar, but not the same because they are designed to hit a sloping downward pitch versus a linear pitch.
For me the issue of donating money to "women's baseball" is actually bigger. It seems like fake money going to a non-cause. The MLB can say on paper that they support women's athletics, but it is just talk. There are many youth softball leagues out there, including Little League Softball, that could benefit from 2 million dollars. Those are the girls that could actually use the money to become female athletes with a future.
Ok, rant over. I am ready for the World Series to end.
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