芝生化奮闘記

　校庭芝生化への反対理由として未だに払拭しきれていないのは野球関係者からの芝生だとイレギュラーが発生し、やりにくいからとの主張。そもそもイレギュラーとは何か。ボールが予想外の動きをするから守備が対応できないと解釈している。

　先月のフォーラムでは元プロ選手で大リーグも経験済みの小宮山さんが「芝生でやる方が上手くなる」との発言が報道されてもなおも内野は土であるべきと信じている関係者が多い。

　先日は鳥取市内の某小学校で校庭芝生化の研究をしている５年生数人が先生たちと一緒にグリーンフィールドに来て、自分たちで芝生の感触を体験し、芝生化についての質問をしていたときの話。

　当日は寒くて、雨が結構降っていた日だったが質問が終了し、野球ボールでちょっと遊ぼうかと僕の提案に「芝生だとやりにくい」とか言って学生が最初は渋々だった。

　少しやり出したらすぐ調子が出てきて、高く放ったボールや地面すれすれに投げたボール、ワンバウンドでくるボール、芝生が濡れていて低く滑るボールなどなど何の問題もなく対応するようになり、最後は大人たちが雑談している間は走り出して、自分たちで考えた遊びに夢中になっていた。

　見ていると滑って転ぶ子もほとんどいなくて、時々転ぶことがあってもすぐ起き上がり遊びを続けるなど、冷たい雨や風にも関わらず聞かなくても全員がとても楽しいことがすぐ分かる。

　終わったとき、息が上がっており、ホッペタが真っ赤くなり、全員の目がくるときと全く違う輝きを発していた。

 When they finally stopped playing, they were all out of breath, their cheeks bright red, and their eyes were shining in a manner totally different to when they first arrived.

　「野球は芝生だとできないと思うか」と改めて聞いたら大きな声で

出来る

と叫ぶように答えた。

　野球関係者、聞こえましたか。

 One of the most persistent reasons more frequently raised when opposing the use of grass in school grounds is that offered by baseball coaches, namely that there will be an increase in irregular bounces by balls that make it difficult for fielders.

  Despite comments by a former major leaguer, Komiyama, when he visited Tottori recently to the effect that playing baseball on grass raises the skill level of kids, some baseball coaches still cling fervently to the belief that the infield must be dirt.

 A group of local 5th graders who are studying the pros and cons of grass visited Greenfield to experience grass for themselves and to ask me some questions. 

 The weather was cold with driving rain, so when I suggested that we play around with a baseball once the questions were all finished, the kids were far from positive in their response.

 It did not take long for them to get into the game, and soon they were all dealing very comfortably with balls thrown high, balls skidding off the wet grass, balls bouncing once before they caught them, and balls sliding in low and fast. Even after I took a break to chat to the teachers, the kids continued with their games, by now running all around the park.

 Hardly any of them slipped and fell, those that did fall over got straight to their feet and continued playing, and it was obvious how much fun they were having despite the wind and rain.

 In response to my question as to whether it was possible to play baseball on grass, they screamed

YES, YOU CAN

 Coaches, did you hear them?