"It doesn't matter if your head is shaved or not," explains the squad captain. Baseball is frequently perceived as a very easy sport to play in American youth athletics, however this is not the case in Japan. There is a certain stigma surrounding baseball in Japan, which makes it difficult for young players to accept the sport. The Japanese baseball organization decides on whether or not to shave players' heads depending on how well they are doing on the field. If they are playing poorly, they will be punished by being made to wear their hair long. If they are playing well, they will be given the opportunity to cut their hair before each season starts. In Japan, there are two types of leagues that young players can be assigned to when they join a new team: high school and junior college. In both cases, they will be asked to commit to a year-round training program. During this time, their performances on the field will determine whether or not they will be allowed to keep their hair short or not. Even though shaving one's head is a form of punishment in Japan, no players are expected to do so willingly. Instead, their parents or legal guardians must go to the manager of the team where their son or daughter is playing and ask them not to let their child shave their head.