H ow do you do it?

That sounds like a great first start to me ...



... about the nerves, I do laps around the baseball field when he pitches. My wife is the calm one. She sits and prays......

It doesn't matter what level.... Pitching is always tougher on the parents than on the player.

terpfan,

Welcome to college baseball. Thats not a bad outing for your son at all. By the time the year ends the "calm one" will be fully medicated.

HHH is right. My son pitches too and I am always more nervous than he is. Will I ever get over it? Who knows...but it ain't lookin' good so far...

Congratulations terpfan to your son and to you. Thats a good first outing.

Don't know what to tell you otherwise though because I'm not sure I breath for the entire time my son is out there. Find another parent of a pitcher on your son's team and you'll have fun sharing nervous stories. You're likely to become good friends...misery loves company!

Speaking as the parent of a hitter, if the parents of the pitchers were not going through the anguish, that means for me. Honestly though, it is very, very difficult for the parent of a freshman and especially the parent of freshman pitchers. Pretty natural to think any particlar mistake/error may be their last. If it helps any, remember how good they are at this darn game just to get the opportunity to play at that level. On the other hand, if you think it is tough now, wait for the end of season tournaments and playoffs. Now that leads to and

Thanks for all the kudos and support guys!
You know what I'll miss is the off days when he just played a position, got to bat ,and see some other poor parent get the hot seat.At this school a pitcher is a pitcher and thats it.I know this is the next level and my wife and I just have to make the the adjustments.

thanks again

Terpfan, just read the Maryland website. Gosh he retired 9 of the last 10 batters he faced. He is playing for a very solid coach. Mine got to play for Coach Rupp at Newport of the NECBL and had a wonderful experience.

That's a great first outing. Many more to come.

For some strange reason I don't get too uptight listening to, or watching the game. It's still early though. My wife just heads for the medicine cabinet.

Terp,
Congrats on your sons first great start!
Mine had his first start last night, didn't go as well.
How do you get through it? By getting wonderful emails and calls from parents and friends from the HSBBW! It's great to share the good times, but just as great to know that others care when things are not so good.
Best of luck to your son!

Terp ...

Congrats for a fine outing. That first appearance is but a memory for me, but I can remember the thrill of seeing my son in his uni on a college mound for the first time. Glad you were there to enjoy it, and hopefully you will enjoy many more in the future.

The one piece of advice I would offer to ease the "discomfort" would be to take LaMaz classes and learn to breath properly ... or perhaps your wife can teach you

quote:

Originally posted by Dad04:
My wife just heads for the medicine cabinet.

Dad04 - I resemble that remark!

Terpfan,
Congratulations on your son's debut. Sounds like he was awesome.
I don't think the "nerves" will ever go away. How do you ever stop wanting success for your child? You don't.
So as I suggested (jokingly) to another web poster, perhaps a little jolt in the java?

Terpfan:

First of all, I add my congrats, as well. He's off to a great start!

I've not discovered any technique for completely disspelling the anxiety that accompanies my son's innings on the mound. However, I've found that it helps some to be on the active side of cheering the rest of the team on (I don't shout ANY exhortations his way, specifically.)

Please let me know if you come up with something. Perhaps you can pass it along to me when we visit next month!

Terpfan,

That is great news for you and your son. I am sure he will have many more. He will develop really well; Coach Rupp is a great coach in a very tough conference.

Orioles42

Terpfan,
Along with the others I would like to add my congratulations for your sons outing. As far as the “parental pressure”, I think it gets worse, not better. You see the expectations from a rookie freshman are far less than what is expected from an upperclassman. As your son matures he will have to shoulder more responsibility and the pressure increases. As you well know, we parents feel this pressure too. Last year when my son was a sophomore in college and in a big SEC game, I could feel this “pressure” pounding throughout my body...really! I went to the EMT on duty and had him check my blood pressure, which was about 200/140, and I have no history or problems with high blood pressure... They snatched the radio earpieces from my ears, fed me some aspirins, and immediately took me to the ER until my BP stabilized. I missed the rest of the ball game but In 30 minutes my BP went to 120/80. The ER doctor just shook his head when he asked what I had eaten and what I was doing. He told me I could NOT drink caffeine drinks while watching my son play baseball...
Fungo

Fungo, Friend, I read your post several times, at first thinking that it was your sense of humor writing that post. But, I do think it is a serious post, and I am so glad you had the common sense to go to the EMT!!

Those numbers are nothing to skoff at- so very glad you listened to your body.

The guys who work the concession stand in Chapel Hill will be shocked; but, I think I've just decided to switch from Diet Coke to bottled water!

amom it's no joke! April 2nd 2004....I missed the last couple of innings while in the ER and didn't get to see my son hit a double in the bottom of the 10th to give his team a 7-6 win over #2 LSU.
Fungo

Fungo, with the way he plays, I think there are many more doubles in his future!!