i have loved the game since i can remember.when we had our first child it was a boy. he wasn't a day old and had a glove, between me and his uncles the kid couldn't help but love sports. same thing with his brother.we would play pass ,shoot hoops, football in the yard etc. the guys that worked for me and the neighbors would have the big games on fri,and sat. and the kids would play as well. my wife not much of a sports fan,having two brothers that played everthing she had an early dislike for sports. i was playing softball at the time, which i don't think she was a big fan of. gone every weekend to tourny's etc. but the upside was my boy's would go to see me play.i think thats where the learned to play hard, play the right way. they would play catch with the team, wiffle ball . lot's of fun. mom liked it for the time alone.
i started coaching LL when my son was 9. i was the guy i didn't want to be.my son never played a whole LL game for me. the smallest mistake or attitude and i'd bench him. i told them both,if you want to play the whole game you need to be better than everyone else. i never wanted anyone to say i played favorites. or that they only played because i was the coached. i think it is the hardest thing for a kid to play for his dad. but that's another story for another day.
one day i saw a guy flip out at his son about an error or something foolish. the light bulb went off ,that's me yelling. that moment changed everything for me. i tried to put the fun back in fundementals. and let my kids play for someone else. i thought my sons were, are good athletes. let them play for some one else .if they are good they still will be, and it's much more flattering to here your thoughts echoed from another.
i stopped coaching my oldest at 12,my youngest asked me to coach his teams until he was 15. and moved on to legion ball.i coach today without my kids because i enjoy it.kids keep you young and they make me wish i was 17 again.
as i said my wife was not much of a sports fan for many reasons. she always did her part to support the boy's in what ever they did.even sports, and as they traveled around we were there.and she began to like it, because of the boy's. when i missed a game i'd call for an update and i would have no idea what she was explaining. stevie wonder would have seen more than she did. that was then, today she knows what she watches.she knows the score, who play's hard, who doesn't want to be there. who's a player etc.
while moms and dads don't do things right everytime, that's how we learn. that's how kids learn. it isn't ok to shout instruction into your kids math class and it isn't ok at a baseball game. let them learn ,have fun,and fail on there own, but support them no matter the out come.don't make excuses for them, there kids they know the deal. and dads remember they don't draft 14 yr olds, if it is to be it will be. inspite of us.
today my wife and i celebrate our 27th year married.(not in a row) and we will be watching the nlcs, together. funny what 27 years with me did for her,or to her.lol. sorry for the ramble.
Hey, hey 20dad...that's some good stuff! Don't apologize...love your ramble dad!
Ramble on Dad
Did you say your name was Ramblin' Dad?
Ramble on, baby.
Settle down easy.
Ramble on, Dad.
Ramble on Dad
Did you say your name was Ramblin' Dad?
Ramble on, baby.
Settle down easy.
Ramble on, Dad.
I have coached all 3 my boys for many years. This year is the first year that I didn't. The travel demands for son 1 and 2 were too difficult. My wife really liked it that I didn't coach this year because when I coached she could feel the pressure to win and it took some of the fun away. Even though I no longer coach their games, I am still their coach and I will be until they quit playing. I do not speak to my boys during games, I also stay away from the coaches. There have been times when one of the boys
were not hitting well during the game and call me over to the fence and ask me what they are doing wrong. If there is something wrong I never tell them during a game. Now they know not even to ask.
We will work on it later. As they get older, I really like it when they learn new things from other coaches. Even though I will always be their coach, there are many many things for them to learn from other coaches more knowledgable than me. Learning baseball never stops, I learn new stuff every year.
My wife is the boys biggest fan of course, she never misses a game, unless they are playing at the same time. She likes to sit with the other parents, she likes the social part of it too, but if a parent is yacking too much she will move. I tend to wonder around and hang out with a few dads.
How my wife keeps track of the boys uni's, sliding pants, cups, belts, socks, hats is an absolute mystery to me. I don't how she keeps up with it. She is also excellent with the nutrition part.
We are a baseball family, Our parents and friends think were nuts. And they are right, we are..
were not hitting well during the game and call me over to the fence and ask me what they are doing wrong. If there is something wrong I never tell them during a game. Now they know not even to ask.
We will work on it later. As they get older, I really like it when they learn new things from other coaches. Even though I will always be their coach, there are many many things for them to learn from other coaches more knowledgable than me. Learning baseball never stops, I learn new stuff every year.
My wife is the boys biggest fan of course, she never misses a game, unless they are playing at the same time. She likes to sit with the other parents, she likes the social part of it too, but if a parent is yacking too much she will move. I tend to wonder around and hang out with a few dads.
How my wife keeps track of the boys uni's, sliding pants, cups, belts, socks, hats is an absolute mystery to me. I don't how she keeps up with it. She is also excellent with the nutrition part.
We are a baseball family, Our parents and friends think were nuts. And they are right, we are..
I admire all of you dads who have taken a step back and thought things over and maybe changed your approach. That takes a lot of courage. You made me think of one of the best coaches my son ever had. This guy played college ball and spent some time as a shortstop in the minors. He was so knowledgeable, and ran the best practices that we've ever had. He knew the best drills, worked the boys hard, kept things moving, and my son really learned a lot. But he was so hard on his own son that it made the rest of us really uncomfortable. It was really sad because (IMO) the kid was just not a natural SS, and every time he brought that glove up early, he would get hammered by his dad. And it just made everything worse for them both. I think the kid would have made a fine outfielder with his arm and speed, but I think his dad's dream was for him to be a SS. The dad finally chilled out somewhat at the 14U level, but I could hear him hollering from the stands during the HS summer season. I think the world of him and I like his son, and I hope they are able to make the adjustments that you dads have.
quote:Originally posted by 2Bmom:
I admire all of you dads who have taken a step back and thought things over and maybe changed your approach. That takes a lot of courage.
Not so much courage...rather a lot of grueling training...
quote:today my wife and i celebrate our 27th year married.(not in a row) and we will be watching the nlcs, together.
Congratulations, 20dad!
Yes indeed!
Are my son's sliding shorts in that box?
quote:2bmom posted: I think the world of him and I like his son, and I hope they are able to make the adjustments that you dads have.
There is life after coaching. It's called tailgating.
Thought this was pretty cool
This in no way excludes Moms IMHO
Baseball Is
Baseball is grass, chalk, and dirt displayed the same yet differently
In every park that has ever heard the words play ball.
Baseball is a passion that bonds and divides all those who know it.
Baseball is a pair of hands stained with newsprint,
A set of eyes squinting to read a boxscore,
A brow creased in an attempt to recreate a three-hour game
From an inch square block of type.
Baseball is the hat I wear to mow the lawn.
Baseball is a simple game of catch
and the never-ending search for the perfect knuckleball.
Baseball is Willie vs Mickey, Gibson vs Koufax, and Buddy Biancalana vs the odds.
Baseball links Kansan and Missourian, American and Japanese,
But most of all father and son.
Baseball is the scent of spring,
The unmistakable sound of a double down the line,
And the face of a 10-year-old emerging from a pile of bodies
With a worthless yet priceless foul ball.
Baseball is a language of very simple words that tell unbelievably magic tales.
Baseball is three brothers in the same uniform on the same team for one brief summer
Captured forever in a black and white photo on a table by the couch.
Baseball is a glove on a shelf, oiled and tightly wrapped,
Slumbering through the stark winter months.
Baseball is a breast pocket bulging with a transistor radio.
Baseball is the reason there are transistor radios.
Baseball is a voice in a box describing men you've never met,
In a place you've never been,
Doing things you'll never have the chance to do.
Baseball is a dream that you never really give up on.
Baseball is precious.
Baseball is timeless.
Baseball is forever.
[Greg Hall]
This in no way excludes Moms IMHO
Baseball Is
Baseball is grass, chalk, and dirt displayed the same yet differently
In every park that has ever heard the words play ball.
Baseball is a passion that bonds and divides all those who know it.
Baseball is a pair of hands stained with newsprint,
A set of eyes squinting to read a boxscore,
A brow creased in an attempt to recreate a three-hour game
From an inch square block of type.
Baseball is the hat I wear to mow the lawn.
Baseball is a simple game of catch
and the never-ending search for the perfect knuckleball.
Baseball is Willie vs Mickey, Gibson vs Koufax, and Buddy Biancalana vs the odds.
Baseball links Kansan and Missourian, American and Japanese,
But most of all father and son.
Baseball is the scent of spring,
The unmistakable sound of a double down the line,
And the face of a 10-year-old emerging from a pile of bodies
With a worthless yet priceless foul ball.
Baseball is a language of very simple words that tell unbelievably magic tales.
Baseball is three brothers in the same uniform on the same team for one brief summer
Captured forever in a black and white photo on a table by the couch.
Baseball is a glove on a shelf, oiled and tightly wrapped,
Slumbering through the stark winter months.
Baseball is a breast pocket bulging with a transistor radio.
Baseball is the reason there are transistor radios.
Baseball is a voice in a box describing men you've never met,
In a place you've never been,
Doing things you'll never have the chance to do.
Baseball is a dream that you never really give up on.
Baseball is precious.
Baseball is timeless.
Baseball is forever.
[Greg Hall]
That was lovely.
And made me wonder (as I'm a fan of a few sports, but passionate only about baseball --- so I don't know)....do other sports have such a wealth of (for lack of a better word) poetry? Essays about the feelings/heritage, lyrical quality, place in the heart and mind that baseball has?
Odes to football? Song of S*ccer? For Love of Golf?
And made me wonder (as I'm a fan of a few sports, but passionate only about baseball --- so I don't know)....do other sports have such a wealth of (for lack of a better word) poetry? Essays about the feelings/heritage, lyrical quality, place in the heart and mind that baseball has?
Odes to football? Song of S*ccer? For Love of Golf?
quote:Essays about the feelings/heritage, lyrical quality, place in the heart and mind that baseball has?
Golf has a lot of that.
quote:What adds to that "tension" of loving your son and wanting them to succeed is the fact that baseball is a game of failure, where your son cannot hide. If he K's in a critical situation, makes an error or two, or three, there isn't any place to hide. He has to know his "failures" end when he walks off the field. That we as his parents are just as proud of him when he might "K" as when he goes 4-4.
infielddad, i must have originally missed this important post, but happened to catch it scanning back through to catch up. How do we as parents handle it when our kids don't play well? I've handled it poorly at times but I do much better now thankfully. I think the reason a lot of dads are up yelling or instructing their sons is that if their sons fail the dads take it as some sort of failure on the their part, or perhaps worse, the dad feels like it makes him look bad (without much concern with how the son is handling it).
I've been able to let most of it go. But we have a couple dads on our teams that have some serious issues here. I'm sure you all can relate.
After one of my sons makes a couple errors or has a tough at-bat, we give credit to the other pitcher or other team when it's due, and we try to think of what we want to do the next time we're in that situation...try to keep it a future-based discussion.
Jon
So, now we are posting pictures of dads, dad04?
Blatant self promotion.............
But, I see we do have some things in common.
Blatant self promotion.............
But, I see we do have some things in common.
Dad04,
Are those brats? If so, geesh, those are some extra big brats!
Are those brats? If so, geesh, those are some extra big brats!
Are those your 1971 NBA shorts ?
quote:Originally posted by willj1967:quote:What adds to that "tension" of loving your son and wanting them to succeed is the fact that baseball is a game of failure, where your son cannot hide. If he K's in a critical situation, makes an error or two, or three, there isn't any place to hide. He has to know his "failures" end when he walks off the field. That we as his parents are just as proud of him when he might "K" as when he goes 4-4.
infielddad, i must have originally missed this important post, but happened to catch it scanning back through to catch up. How do we as parents handle it when our kids don't play well? I've handled it poorly at times but I do much better now thankfully. I think the reason a lot of dads are up yelling or instructing their sons is that if their sons fail the dads take it as some sort of failure on the their part, or perhaps worse, the dad feels like it makes him look bad (without much concern with how the son is handling it).
I've been able to let most of it go. But we have a couple dads on our teams that have some serious issues here. I'm sure you all can relate.
After one of my sons makes a couple errors or has a tough at-bat, we give credit to the other pitcher or other team when it's due, and we try to think of what we want to do the next time we're in that situation...try to keep it a future-based discussion.
Jon
Great thoughts infielddad.
I have often said to son, I don't care about the lousy outing, I am so proud of you and what you have accomplished. If you let your kids know that from a very early age, you will see them go farther than you can ever imagine.How do you handle it when your kids don't play well? You don't criticize, belittle or use derogatory comments to make him feel worse. Your role is to be there to listen, only when and if he has something to say that he wants to communicate. They need to learn from their failures, to bring success, that's the game. I went to see my son pitch today, I think he did well, he thinks he didn't, but he usually feels that way, he is harder on himself but that is his way of making himself better. As your kids get older, you will find they are very rarely happy with a performance. There's always something to improve always tweaking and it takes YEARS to develop as a player, physically and mentally. Sometimes you do everything right, but the person you are facing did things better. It's important to teach your young players that is how it works.
As far as our mom and dad roles, we do look at things differently because I am a mom and he is a dad. But that is just not in baseball, that's in everything. Moms tend to smooth things over, dads seem to be more critical, that is part of the mother/son, father/son relationship just as the mother/daughter, father/daughter relationship has its own set of rules.
Dad04 is the YOU in cajun red!?!?!
quote:Originally posted by FormerObserver:
But, I see we do have some things in common.
Ya' both look good in red!
Since my son was about 14 we have always used the stock market and performance of companies as analogies for baseball.
After a game, the question was "whose stock went up."
At first he did not really understand the concept. Until he learned that you "invest" in stocks, no different than you invest in your game. When you have a bad game do you sell your stock, of course not.
What I was able to teach him was the value of investing, that is not just in stocks or education but your game. He learned that to be a successful investor you have to look "long term." So when we talk after games, when he does poorly, he knows that his stock may have gone down but if he "invests" he will create more value for himself and his team.
After a game, the question was "whose stock went up."
At first he did not really understand the concept. Until he learned that you "invest" in stocks, no different than you invest in your game. When you have a bad game do you sell your stock, of course not.
What I was able to teach him was the value of investing, that is not just in stocks or education but your game. He learned that to be a successful investor you have to look "long term." So when we talk after games, when he does poorly, he knows that his stock may have gone down but if he "invests" he will create more value for himself and his team.
quote:Originally posted by ILVBB:
Since my son was about 14 we have always used the stock market and performance of companies as analogies for baseball. He learned that to be a successful investor you have to look "long term."
Thats a good one.
Take a 3 game series full of ups and downs. Then project that out times 20 and you can get an idea of pace performance.
Go 3-10 with a couple ribbies and couple stolen bases. At seasons end, you contributed the following:
A .300 batting average with 40 RBI's and 40 stolen bases. Think that has a value to a team, for example ??