It
’s back to school again and time to start juggling baseball,
school and life. New changes await your student athlete both on the
academic front and playing field. Whether they’re moving from one
elementary grade to another or moving on to middle school, each day
becomes a new conquest. Balancin
g school work, sports and other family and individual activities
becomes one of your child’s greatest challenges. They not only have
to master how to hit a fastball but must remember their locker
combinations and where their class is actually located.
It’s back to school again and time to start juggling baseball, school and life. New changes await your student athlete both on the academic front and playing field. Whether they’re moving from one elementary grade to another or moving on to middle school, each day becomes a new conquest.
Balancing school work, sports and other family and individual activities becomes one of your child’s greatest challenges. They not only have to master how to hit a fastball but must remember their locker combinations and where their class is actually located.
With the right game plan, it can be done. The first thing you and your child should do is set down some priorities. Explain to your young student athlete that family comes first, school second and sports third. And baseball is a big third. It takes a lot of time and energy for both the parent and player.
Although they might not quickly agree, most youth players realize the importance of families and why it’s ahead of sports. As a parent you must make sure your child understands that schoolwork is also ahead of baseball.
However, parents should allow children to pursue their athletic hopes and dreams while not forgetting education comes first.
Once these priorities have been established, you can begin to work out daily, weekly and season-long schedules. You’ll probably have to make a list of your child’s afterschool sports activities and otherwise. Then you can decide how much time is needed for all of them. Help your child make out a realistic schedule that makes time for everything. Be sure to set aside a fixed period every day for homework.
Working around a practice or game schedule is also tough, especially during the regular season. Games tend to last until sundown. By the time you get home and have dinner it’s almost time for bed. Set aside homework time before the game if possible. Help your child succeed both academically and athletically. Stress the importance that participating in baseball is a privilege, not a right.
Don’t let baseball become an obsession. Family activities should be put at the top of the list. Year-round baseball and constantly playing baseball every weekend possible will not make your child a better player. Missing a practice or game every now and then because of a family activity or schoolwork is okay.
Every year, I see high school athletes that fail to make grades because they couldn’t juggle life, family, schoolwork and sports. It shouldn’t have to happen. By setting expectations early for your child, they’re learning efficient study skills and the importance of good grades. They can also put everything else into perspective and handle the tasks and challenges that await them on and off the field.
Rich Taylor is the owner, CEO and head instructor of Taylor Made Baseball. Call him at (408) 782-0630 or contact him by email at rj********@***oo.com His regular column runs twice a month.
