While that jolly old guy in the red suit is checking his list
and visions of X-Boxes dance in every kids head, youth baseball is
just around the corner. It may seem like just yesterday that the
curse of the Bambino was lifted in the World Series by the Boston
Red Sox, but as every parent will tell you, they
’re scrambling to find birth certificates and register their
kids for the upcoming season. Yes, like it or not, baseball’s
back.
While that jolly old guy in the red suit is checking his list and visions of X-Boxes dance in every kids head, youth baseball is just around the corner. It may seem like just yesterday that the curse of the Bambino was lifted in the World Series by the Boston Red Sox, but as every parent will tell you, they’re scrambling to find birth certificates and register their kids for the upcoming season. Yes, like it or not, baseball’s back.
Like Christmas, baseball is rich in tradition. And, like Christmas, we tend to do things the same way. Same practices, same drills, same warm-ups, same pre and post game rituals, Same this and same that.
I’ve just finished a great book entitled, “Just Let the Kids Play.” In one of the chapters, the book coins the phrase “tradition-resistant,” meaning, we’ve always done it that way, why change? I can relate to the phrase and in some respects I feel youth baseball has fallen into a rut. Well, everyone, it’s time to step out of the box and put what’s in the best interests of the kids at the forefront of your thinking.
If you’re a coach, attend a coaches clinic. The solid fundamental things you’ve been teaching in practice are good. But, get out and learn new things you can add to your practice. Baseball is evolving with different ways and drills to teach the game. Bring back some good things you can relate to your kids.
Change your practices. Hit first instead of always warming up first. Do something fun at the end of every practice instead of finishing with one kid hitting and 12 kids standing around. Take a phantom pre-game infield, meaning you take infield before the game with no ball. The kids just love it. While coaching at Pepperdine, we did it in Hawaii and the fans loved it so much, the local TV channel came out and filmed it the next night.
As a parent you can make some changes as well. If you haven’t done so, attend some practices. Don’t just drop off your child and come back later. Stick around once and awhile and appreciate the job the coaches do with your son or daughter. Early in the season, instead of the usual take-the-snack-and-run, pool the parents and take the kids for pizza or ice cream. It gets the parents together early in the season so they can get to know one another.
On off-days play catch with your child as much as you can or toss some balls to them so they can hit. You can use wiffleballs to make it easier and safer. Cheer don’t jeer. Yelling instructions doesn’t sit well with coaches and won’t help anyway.
So, don’t give up the traditional values of Christmas and the Holiday Season. Enjoy the quality time with family and friends and cherish the moments.
But make the “new” baseball moments count as well in the upcoming year.
