The Intersection of Youth Sports and Family Law

As we wait for the school year to end and the summer to begin, there is a sense of excitement in the air as all of Denville is on the verge of beginning the summer season. During the course of the year, players from kindergarten all the way to high school are taught important skills to get them ready for the following stage of their lives. Kids also understand that they must give their all to succeed, and the Denville community gives them the support to back it up. It should come as no surprise that the values of Denville Baseball have found their way to educating kids on things like communication and conflict resolution.

In certain circumstances, life can not be settled on the baseball field. When people go through family law matters, such as divorce, more complex issues come to bear. Because of this, the rules on the field of a baseball diamond occasionally find their way to the court room. In Texas, families often use a comprehensive Rule 11 Agreement to settle the terms of their divorce.

A Rule 11 Agreement, named after the Rule in the Texas Rules of Evidence about settlements, is an agreement entered into by both parties to a divorce that deals with the terms of the divorce. However, should there be a violation of the terms of the agreement, the other party may file a motion with the court to have the agreement enforced. When proceeding without the guidance of an attorney, it may appear cutting edge and intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.

When you think about baseball (and other youth sports), one the fundamental actions all players are taught is to play fair and to have sportsmanship. These characteristics are present in the best youth sports leagues. When you go beyond the field and look at the court room, the general rules of evidence and decorum can be bent to result in a ruling that is more favorable for one side than the other. With a Rule 11 Agreement, the result of the court room is less likely to be a surprise, since the agreement of the parties is placed before the court.

The teamwork involved in baseball is a critical element for young players to learn in youth sports leagues. As they carry this teamwork mentality down the road, success and camaraderie become more common, and the idea of self-importance fades slightly. The same can be said for lawyers working in the same room to reach an agreement. The lawyers must communicate with each other and their clients clearly and honestly, or conflicts will arise. At the same time, the people involved in a dispute have to work together with the sole goal of reaching the best pre-trial or trial result possible.

The importance of hearing the other team players is stressed in youth sports. The only time you should lose your temper is if the umpire has missed a call. Once the game ends, whether you came out victorious or not, you have to shake hands with the other team and acknowledge them as being equal to you. It if was not for the other team, your team never would have had the opportunity to play in the first place. In Texas family law disputes, this is very true. The process involves both sides having to appear off-putting to the other at times to reach a mutually beneficial result. At the end, the lawyers, judges, and clerks must make certain that the rights of both parties to the dispute are protected.

There’s a well-known saying about finding creative ways to value individual players or teams, and this is something that youth sports emphasizes. The players don’t win in a vacuum. Communication and trust forms the basis of how parents and players come together in this shared activity. Same thing holds true when a family is going through a divorce.

The rules for each division correspond with the ages of players. The older that a child gets, the better the expectations of the youth league become. Teammates are asked to serve into specific roles. The same thing happens, to a certain extent, with a Texas family law case. Minors should have a solid understanding of whether they select to be represented by a lawyer or not. However, this does not negate the fact that a final decision requires the signatures of the parents. When dealing with teens and adults, things are significantly different.

Coaches are helpful and approachable, and the best of them are always present to help in time of need. They are a second person that a child can talk to outside of a parent, and that can solve many of the problems they may encounter as they grow older. Legal professionals have the responsibility to maintain a certain appearance toward the court, while also providing the best service possible to their clients. Their job is to seek justice by representing the best interests of their clients.

When a manager gives a pre-game speech, the focus is on keeping the kids interested. They do not want their players to be bored, and they also try to find a way to give each player some words of encouragement. How often have you heard the manager say that preparation is key? That the team that wins is the one that planned the best for a given situation? The same is true in family law matters. For a Texas rule 11 agreement to be effective, it has to meet the needs of both parties involved in the matter.

As the baseball season begins for another year, rules and traditions begin to take shape. The values that have been passed down through the generations only become stronger and more ingrained in the community. Unfortunately, despite the positive effects of youth sports leagues, there is still some difficulty in applying them on a day-to-day basis when addressing legal matters. This is not to say that it can’t be done. The example set forth by Denville Baseball should be regarded in other legal areas, including divorce.