What I Know and Remember About Baseball - Aggression

Running Bases, protecting the bag, pitching; whatplays a role in aggression. Anthropological research
is the level of aggression players should utilizehas found that some cultures are relatively low on
when playing baseball? Does it make sense for aaggression while others are seemingly high. If
12u team to have a player round third when theallowed to continue unchecked, the culture of
catcher has the ball under control and then dig abaseball runs the risks of aggressive contact as a
bee line to knock the ball out of the catchersprerequisite to success.
glove?Environmental factors can trigger more
In psychology and other social and behavioralaggressive behavior. Heat, is the predominate
sciences, aggression refers to behavior that isenvironmental event that leads to aggression.
intended to cause harm or pain.Biologically were prefer certain levels of comfort.
However, it is important to understand what beingWhen weather swings beyond our preferred
appropriately aggressive baseball player means,levels, humans get edgy.
because "being too aggressive' is often aAdd the stress of competitive activity and being
description indicating a problem player. To clarify aon the winning or losing side and aggression can
player was direct physical harm was obviously theflair. Much like a flame to dry tinder, the smallest
intent? And could the objective served by thespark can set the whole enterprise a blaze.
action could have been accomplished by methodsAggression can be either physical or verbal, and
less likely to harm another. - Hardingbehavior is classified as aggression even if it does
Each baseball player makes choices in the heat ofnot actually succeed in causing harm or pain.
the moment. What is important for coaches andBehavior that accidentally causes harm or pain is
parents is to guide these choices. Collisions arenot aggression.
inevitable, but the degree to which the collision canLeft un checked, aggression initiated by one will
be tempered can be taught.likely be repaid in kind or a little more, which will
What does this have to do with whether or not athen be repaid; a accelerating cycle that can lead
player is too aggressive? At every level a player'sto all out violence. Clearing the bench for a team
play is formed within the context of the game'sfight is a sorry day for both teams.
rules as exercised by parents, coaches andAs parents and coaches, it is up to us to teach
umpires. – Hardingour players what is acceptable aggression. It
Until baseball players reach the paid ranks (Imakes no sense for a 12u team to have a player
consider college as a paid position) the focusround third when the catcher has the ball under
should be that everyone there is to have somecontrol and then dig a bee line to knock the ball
level of fun and everyone deserves to be able toout of the catchers glove. Here the decision
walk away from the game without injuriesshould be to get caught between third and home
inflicted by others.and force the defense to complete a successful
Aggression is not limited to the field of play andpickle.
the actions therein. From the bench, foul language,Baseball players need to be aggressive in many
attempts to intimidate or mocking are all initiatingareas. Fielding, Hitting and base running require
forms of aggression. It may appear on theactive aggressive actions to complete the desired
surface as a benign taunting, but where does itresult. When actions involve other players, this
end? If a player successfully taunts opponentsaggressiveness needs to be age appropriate, or
without recourse, they will take the next step.at least skill appropriate. What is acceptable for a
As humans we are hardwired for certaincompetitive travel 12u team, may not be
behaviors. Culture is a distinctly human factor thatacceptable for a 12u recreation team.