Remember summer little league when you were a kid? You looked forward to getting a crisp new uniform, breaking in a new baseball mitt and a trip to Dairy Queen as a team when you won. Some of your favorite memories are probably of the great snag you made at short-stop or getting the winning hit in the bottom of the ninth on a 3-2 count with the bases loaded and two outs.
Kids’ sports have changed over the years. Originally, Little League was created by men who wanted to give back to the community. They knew kids could benefit from learning the rules of what it meant to be a part of a team and how to respect an adult as coach and teacher. There were no team sponsors, no drafts where coaches play politics to get the best players, and no kids in tears after their parents berate them for striking out or not catching a pop-fly. Things have definitely changed. Yet, there are still some parents and coaches in it for the right reasons. Here are some ideas to keep in mind when trying to get back to the fun in summer sports (or fall, winter, or spring sports for that matter):
- Focus on your child’s effort, not success. Instead of your first question being, “Did you win?” perhaps you could ask, “How’d it go?” There is plenty of time for you to focus on the win as your child gets older. For now, ask whether or not your child played his best. Ask him if he was a good sport. If the answers to those two questions are yes and you witnessed it on the field, even a loss is tolerable.
- Invest time in helping them build their skills. If you little slugger whiffs more than he makes contact with the ball, it is a prime opportunity for you to give him a little one-on-one time at the batting cages. Even if you’re not Babe Ruth, the time you spend with him will be invaluable.
- Set a good example in the stands. Cheer for your child. Encourage the other kids on his team. Stay away from heckling the umpire or opposing team’s players or coaches. If there is a problem with the ways plays are being called on the field, it’s the coach’s job to argue those points with the umpires or referees.
- Help your child understand what it means to be a good teammate. Stress the importance of your child encouraging his teammates. Do not allow your child to talk down to or make fun of teammates who aren’t as talented as others. It’s okay for kids to be disappointed when their teams don’t perform as well as they know they are able, but it’s not okay to pin a loss on one member of a team. It takes a team to win and it takes a team to lose.
- Help your child learn more about the sport. Your child will not understand as much about the sport as you do. You have quite a few years of learning about the game under your belt and your child may be just beginning. Consider taking your child to a major league game or go for the budget-saving option and watch a game on TV with your child. Break down the basics of the sport and pass along your knowledge and love of the game.
Summer is a time for ball games, ice cream, watermelon, and cookouts. Don’t let it be ruined by acting ugly on the field.
