[Nathans_Dad]

Good replies, thanks guys.

The team has really had fun this season, I have heard from almost all the parents how the kids just love the team. I think we just got lucky and had a great group of kids who genuinely seem to be friends.

There are some basic rules, a player cannot play one position more than two innings in a game and each player must play every inning. So my team has 12 kids on it which means we play a standard infield and then usually have 5-6 outfielders depending on whether everyone shows up or not. Now, some teams set their lineups where their two best kids just alternate between pitcher and first base, the other decent fielders rotate the infield positions and then their weak fielders play two innings in right center field and two in left center field or whatever. I think that's BS. My kids always have played at least two innings out of 5 in the infield.

Now then, I don't put a kid who can't catch a ball at first base unless the game is already sewn up. I don't see the point in putting a kid into a situation he does not have the skills to handle just so his parents can see him play 1st base.

I'm going to stick with a flexible rotation in the tournament, at least for the first couple games. If we get into the semi-finals and up though, I am gonna have to think really hard about whether to set my lineup the way the other teams will be. I guarantee you everyone at that point is going to have their good kids in the infield the whole game.

I think I can probably keep my original system in for the first couple games, if we do get a #2 seed we will be playing some one or two win teams in the first round, should be a pretty easy win.