The Benchwarmers is a 2006 American sports-comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan, written by Allen Covert and Nick Swardson, and produced by Adam Sandler and Jack Giarraputo.

The film stars Rob Schneider, David Spade, Jon Heder, Jon Lovitz, Craig Kilborn, Molly Sims, and Tim Meadows, with Swardson, Erinn Bartlett, Amaury Nolasco, Bill Romanowski, Sean Salisbury, Matt Weinberg, John Farley, Reggie Jackson, and Joe Gnoffo in supporting roles.

Gus Matthews, Richie Goodman, and Clark Reedy are adult "nerds" who spent their childhoods longing to play baseball, but never got the chance.

As the tournament goes on, Jerry and his fellow little league coaches Brad, Karl, and Wayne start conspiring together planning to defeat the Benchwarmers.

In the final game, Gus, Clark, and Richie let a team consisting of Nelson and other non-athletic children play, to give them a chance to compete.

Realizing the true spirit of the game, Troy decides to let Nelson score a run with Kyle stating Jerry is "the loser".

The Benchwarmers storm the field, celebrating the fact that they were not shut out, and an outraged Jerry is then humiliated when he is left hanging by his underwear on a fence after getting a wedgie by Gus, Richie, Clark, Howie and Mel.

Richie and Clark get girlfriends, Howie informs Wayne that he's overcome his heliophobia (though is still afraid of the moon), and Gus announces that he is going to become a father.

In an interview on The Howard Stern Show in 2006, David Spade stated that Artie Lange was originally cast in the role of Clark, which was then offered to Jon Heder (of Napoleon Dynamite fame).

[5] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times wrote: "The Benchwarmers is the sort of trash that Hollywood does really well" and noted it was only in theaters to raise awareness for the home-rental market.

"[6] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave it a positive review: "This morphing of "The Bad News Bears" and a "Three Stooges" episode parades its dumbness with such zip that it almost passes for clever.