Kid pitch baseball--Where kids learn how to get hit by the baseball

Alan and Hyrum are both doing baseball this fall.  Alan is taking a break from taekwondo and wanted in on the baseball fun.  We figured fall would be a good time to start since it is their noncompetitive season and we were lucky enough to get them on the same team.  We just finished our first week of baseball practice.  The first day the coach discovered that no one had ever pitched before.  Everyone was either brand new to baseball (like Alan) or had only played coach pitch (like Hyrum).  At practice on Friday the coach told the parents that they were going to do a little practice game.  "The kids need to learn what it's like to get hit by the ball." 

And get hit they did.  Neither of my boys got hit during practice (although Alan is sporting a nice bruise on his knee from practicing at home with his brother) but there were multiple kids who did.  I think this is pretty much just weeding out the kids who really want to play baseball.  What kids are willing to put up with getting hit by the ball and who is willing to endure a boring game where there are no hits, only walks.  Hyrum is going to be pitching his first in the first game on Wednesday.  We'll see who comes home with bruises.