[Sportsandrec] Beep Baseball Regs

[Peter Donahue]

Hello Jennifer and listers,

    I wouldn't consider Beep Baseball as a "Blind Sport." Rather it's a 
sport that was "Adapted" to permit the blind to play competitively. Goal 
Ball, Showdown, and Swish were developed specifically for blind and disabled 
individuals so the concern does not apply to them.

    We're not just talking about sports here, but about an attitude, a 
mind-set these sports can create in blind competitors; especially blind 
children and youth. If sports like this are allowed to continue to be played 
by rules that foster low expectations in blind competitors, i.t. reduced 
play time, requiring that they be assisted to the bases by sighted persons, 
etc, we're setting these folks up for failure in life; a battle whose time 
has come and a Green Monster to be destroyed.

    Earlier today I talked to an S&R member concerning possible activities 
at this year's national convention. Assuming time and space permit I 
suggested a Beep Baseball game played by the rules of standard baseball 
rather than the rather demeaning and short-sighted rules of Beep Baseball 
you described. Use the BB equipment, but play the game as it should be 
played. Remember there are those on this list who were playing baseball and 
participating in other competitive sports on a equal basis with sighted 
players with nothing more than modifications needed to allow a blind person 
to play the game and not by rules and regs that reinforce the age-old 
stereotypes and presumed "inabilities of the blind." Now let's "Play Ball!!"

Peter Donahue

 ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jennifer Boylan" <jaboylan at gmail.com>
To: <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 6:50 PM
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Beep Baseball Regs


Peter and all,
Okay, I will refrain from using the b-word (or in this case, the bb-word!)
Slippery slopes can be fun--never tried a downward spiral, though.
Seriously, I think it's important to be equal in society's eyes and it's our
responsibility as blind individuals to earn that respect by showing what we
can do in a positive way.  Some battles are more important than others, so
let's focus our energy there first before we pick apart the blind sports too
much.  There is contact info for the rules committee on the NBBA website (
www.nbba.org) if you'd like to share your concerns with the powers that be.
We have a hard enough time finding and keeping good pitchers, let alone
other volunteers and even players, so any competent individual is more than
welcome to come out and try out for any position on our team!  Oh dear, as
co-captain I'm a co-conspirator in all the establishment has to offer...let
me go join my daughter for a time out and reflect on my sins.  Joe, thanks
for picking up my slack on the lyric/artist thing.
  Jennifer
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