What Little League All-Star Baseball Taught Me about the Need for Rules
I sat in the stands in East San Diego earlier this week, ready to take in my son’s first all-star baseball game. The fields were impeccably manicured, the boys were sporting their brand new red and black uniforms, and fans were ready to celebrate like it was game 7 of the World Series.
From the outset, fans and players alike were greeted with the typical pomp and circumstance of Little League games. The players recited the Pledge of Allegiance and one boy from each team stepped up to lead the Little League Pledge.
For those who have played, coached, or watched a Little League game, it’s impossible to miss the rules, but most follow the norms typical at all levels of baseball. In this first all-star game however, I witnessed an entirely new level of what felt like unnecessary bureaucracy.
First, we were told that, “The dugout is closed to all outside communication” right before the first pitch. The request seemed reasonable, though for those of us parents who can’t help but provide last minute tips such as “watch out for the curve ball” or “hit through the ball”, we had a brief moment of collective pause.
In the first inning, one of our coaches approached one of our players who was currently up to bat. As he provided some last-minute tips, the home plate umpire exalted, “That’s your first offensive visit!” – meaning the first visit to speak to one of our hitters. Who knew that there was a limit on talking to our players mid-game?
The next few innings went by without incident and our team took an early lead. In the fourth inning, our manager scrambled to talk to the home plate umpire to make an urgent substitution so that we wouldn’t be disqualified. Apparently, every kid has to play 6 consecutive outs in the field and take one at bat before coming out of the game. While the rule has great intentions to ensure every kid has the chance to play, it creates a distracting side-show and takes the focus off of what is happening on the field. At the time I thought, “Is there another way to ensure every kid gets to share in a great experience while ensuring competitive balance?” I guess some teams will always look for and find ways to cheat (Not looking at you New England Patriots).
At the time, I was blown away by the mosaic of esoteric rules as well as our coach’s ability to navigate them successfully. On the drive home, I reflected on the unintended consequences of such rigid rules but also the implications for the business world.
The Impact of an Over-reliance of Rules
Rules Cause Teams to Manage to Compliance Rather than Outcomes: In this case, our team burned a ton of energy ensuring they complied with the rules rather than focus on what the kids should be doing at the plate and in the field. They did a noble job of balancing both, but rules split their focus at a time when the real priority should solely be on the action on the field. In a business context, rigid rules can cause teams to get bogged down with compliance when a greater outcomes focus would benefit the company and its shareholders.
Rules Create a Tense, Fear-Based Mindset: Fear of “losing the game” by missing one of the myriad of seemingly archaic rules can pervade the minds of coaches, players, and fans alike. Rather than focus on making bold decisions of who to insert in which situation, coaches spend needless time worrying about following the rules. Similarly, rules can lead business leaders to tense up and fear violating a rule instead of instilling a risk-embracing culture looking to challenge the status quo and create groundbreaking innovations.
Rules Require Extra Resources: The reality of the rules also can require a dedicated coach (or at least a coach assigned to manage the rules) to ensure compliance with the rules so that our team wouldn’t get disqualified for violating one of the many rules. With teams only allowed 3 coaches per game, this would have resulted in a poor use of resources. But who wants to lose a game, in this case an 8-0 shutout, from a ticky tack rule violation?
Rules Choke Back Innovation: Less so in Little League, but too many rules in organizations can lead to less creativity, lower rates of innovation, and ultimately underperformance in the marketplace.
I understand the need for rules. In the case of Little League, it’s to prevent bad actors from cheating their way to the top. In the business world, it’s to prevent future Enron meltdowns, misleading financial reports, and companies enrolling customers into accounts they didn’t sign up for.
My point isn’t to suggest eliminating rules, but to look for opportunities to utilize guidelines in place of rules. In Little League, do we really need a limit on “offensive visits.” Instead, why can’t we empower umpires to give warnings to teams pushing the limits and to eject coaches after continued violations. In business, do we need hard and fast rules on things like paid time off, or can we do what my mentor taught me and to manage to outcomes and apply guidelines to vacation and time out of the office? The point is to strike a balance so that teams and companies can continue to perform while engaging and motivating their employees.
How do you manage the need for rules with less restrictive guidelines to ensure company, team, and individual performance?