Although you are correct in having a place for a kid to develop and yes there are many other options out there but also keep in mind as many of these conversations are one way streets for the non skilled kids parents who feel left out and create Kaos that separation of teams is wrong and unfair , Yes you have kids who are above and beyond the basic skills , lets keep in mind many towns have created separate brackets to handle this GAP Span in skillset , and before everyone starts to bash this comment of keeping all teams together as one VS separation , you answer this question ? is it fair for that kid who is just learning and developing basic skill sets to be in the mix with a kid who goes to clinics year round , plays travel , and has advanced a lot quicker only to mingle the two together causing bad habits for the kid who takes it serious VS discouraging the kid who will get the wrong message while developing because he still is in his learning phase? its a catch 22 with this topic , people get caught up in the competitive aspect with their own TOWN program and guess what ?? there is nothing wrong with it ! explain the fairness for both sides of the fence that kids should all be on one team? It starts with the PAL programs themselves , if they did not create brackets , maybe you would not have this issue of staying " TRUE to its developmental roots"
There is nothing wrong with taking the competitive team if at all any from each district to play for a championship. A life lesson for some kids on a different level.


Originally Posted by Anonymous
Originally Posted by Anonymous
Someone besides the money grabbing DLM organization (preferably a town organization) should set up a battle of the long island towns tournament possibly a couple of Suffolk County town and a couple of Nassau County town directors get together and plan an event at a district somewhere on the island who can field a large enough crowd , all proceeds goto event organizing Cost and the rest to a children's charity of some sort .


You're missing the point of PAL. It is, an always was about having a place for kids to play and develop. Some towns take it WAY too serious. If you want your son to compete for Championships there are so many options out there. Not saying PAL shouldn't be competitive, but it should stay true to it's developmental roots. It should be inclusive, and it should provide an atmosphere that provides the average player an opportunity to grow. And before you cast dispersions, my kids are older. One playing in college, another on Varsity as a freshman. Point is, PAL gave them a place to learn the game, despite the nut jobs that wanted to have A teams in 3rd grade.