I have one who just finished playing and one who's establishing his college prospect potential. They have two different personalities. What was good for one sometimes has been a mistake with the other.
Done right:
* Made it fun
* Offered extra practice rather than pushed it
* Left the game at the park unless they wanted to discuss it
* Made them set development goals (not stats)
* As much as it killed me not to coach, recognizing at sixteen my son needed the kick in the rear from someone else or it would affect our relationship
Did wrong:
* The few times I put mouth in action before brain in motion. When I screwed this one up I was an all-star at it.
The two of the best things my kids have said to me:
Daughter: When I get on the team bus it reminds me of all those trips to travel tournaments we made together.
Son: For years you've been telling me 'academics first.' - when I got on him recently for missing a weeknight travel practice/he gets it
Advice: If you're tearing your kid's game apart on the way home it's not a bonding experience.
Gosh...let me think about this one...
Do the same:
Pray for my son's health, safety and happiness.
Never miss a tournament or game; no matter what as we support each other 100%.
Balance life so that he doesn't miss too many activities at home and can be part of high school life.
Do Overs!!!!
Don't put so much emphasis on perfection (his dad, not me).
When instinct tells you to check something out further, do it. Check out summer coaches and their programs so you chose the right team, age group and location to play and be seen.
Narrow down where he really wants to play, i.e. territory/area.
Don't forget to always have FUN...baseball is a game.
Do the same:
Pray for my son's health, safety and happiness.
Never miss a tournament or game; no matter what as we support each other 100%.
Balance life so that he doesn't miss too many activities at home and can be part of high school life.
Do Overs!!!!
Don't put so much emphasis on perfection (his dad, not me).
When instinct tells you to check something out further, do it. Check out summer coaches and their programs so you chose the right team, age group and location to play and be seen.
Narrow down where he really wants to play, i.e. territory/area.
Don't forget to always have FUN...baseball is a game.
quote:Originally posted by enjoyedtheride:
Don't forget to always have FUN...baseball is a game.
Welcome
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It's all about having the right tool for the job TPM.
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quote:Originally posted by TPM:
No one has better hindsight around here than Woody.
It's all about having the right tool for the job TPM.
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"Looking back, what do you see as being the 3 most valuable things you have done, as a parent or a coach, for your player(s)? and What are 3 things you would not do again if you had it to do over?"
Valuable things as a parent:
1. Watched as many innings of my son's games as possible, and simply enjoyed watching him play.
2. Loved the game.
3. Loved my son, and made sure he knows it. (That's really #1.)
Do overs:
1. Got too excited or too disappointed over accomplishments at age 10, 11, etc.
2. Nagged
3. Missed a single chance to simply enjoy this wonderful young man who God entrusted to my care.
Julie
Valuable things as a parent:
1. Watched as many innings of my son's games as possible, and simply enjoyed watching him play.
2. Loved the game.
3. Loved my son, and made sure he knows it. (That's really #1.)
Do overs:
1. Got too excited or too disappointed over accomplishments at age 10, 11, etc.
2. Nagged
3. Missed a single chance to simply enjoy this wonderful young man who God entrusted to my care.
Julie
i'm guessing everything we did was valuable to some degree. to me it was the time spent traveling,practicing. i really like my son's as people.
i think i would have looked ahead in their baseball future. we never looked further than tomorrow's game. didn't have a plan, didn't know we needed one.
asked more questions sooner.but over all i'm a happy bb parent.
i think i would have looked ahead in their baseball future. we never looked further than tomorrow's game. didn't have a plan, didn't know we needed one.
asked more questions sooner.but over all i'm a happy bb parent.
Great stuff. Thank you all for sharing your reflections. There are good lessons in here for those of us navigating the path.
Woody ... I have made a note about no chugging from gravy boats, but I don't think I'll be able to put a stop to pre-game and post-game meals at the Waffle House in Gainesville, FL ... two championships have been won on this magic formula
Woody ... I have made a note about no chugging from gravy boats, but I don't think I'll be able to put a stop to pre-game and post-game meals at the Waffle House in Gainesville, FL ... two championships have been won on this magic formula
Amazing at the number of replies that incldue "wish I would have found this site sooner"
I too wish I would have found this site sooner! But as they say Better late than never!
I too wish I would have found this site sooner! But as they say Better late than never!
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With that amount of success southpaw I would have guessed your breakfast spot would have been...
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quote:Originally posted by southpaw_dad:
I don't think I'll be able to put a stop to pre-game and post-game meals at the Waffle House in Gainesville, FL ... two championships have been won on this magic formula
With that amount of success southpaw I would have guessed your breakfast spot would have been...
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The best thing was the time I spent with my son.
The worst
Why did I ever worry about baseball....its only baseball
The worst
Why did I ever worry about baseball....its only baseball
Right:
1 - Got them to love the game.
2 - Taught them to respect the game.
3 - Taught them how to play the game.
4 - Taught them how to act. (Didn't always work)
5 - Taught them to work hard.
Wrong:
Just about everything else.
I am an expert at doing the wrong things.
If only I knew then what I know now.
From a pure selfish standpoint, I didn't really enjoy it all enough.
1 - Got them to love the game.
2 - Taught them to respect the game.
3 - Taught them how to play the game.
4 - Taught them how to act. (Didn't always work)
5 - Taught them to work hard.
Wrong:
Just about everything else.
I am an expert at doing the wrong things.
If only I knew then what I know now.
From a pure selfish standpoint, I didn't really enjoy it all enough.
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We took a vote PG. It was unanimous..."Don't doubt anything PG says".
And in that spirit we all thought that you should become familiar with this sign and what it means.
Your continued presence here on the HSBBW is desired!
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quote:Originally posted by PGStaff:
I am an expert at doing the wrong things.
We took a vote PG. It was unanimous..."Don't doubt anything PG says".
And in that spirit we all thought that you should become familiar with this sign and what it means.
Your continued presence here on the HSBBW is desired!
.
Right:
1. Ended up with a son who is a good person despite many mistakes on my part.
2. Introduced him to baseball
3. Got instruction for him other than mine.
Wrong:
1. Didn't hold him back in school when he was young and not ready for 1st grade.
2. Listened to him and my wife and didn't hold him back in 8th grade.
3. Didn't realize that being right doesn't matter when it comes to dealing w/ HS coaches. Just like the pedestrian with right-of-way who gets run over by a car, being "dead" right is not a good thing. Believed the HS coach and didn't have him transfer after sophmore season.
1. Ended up with a son who is a good person despite many mistakes on my part.
2. Introduced him to baseball
3. Got instruction for him other than mine.
Wrong:
1. Didn't hold him back in school when he was young and not ready for 1st grade.
2. Listened to him and my wife and didn't hold him back in 8th grade.
3. Didn't realize that being right doesn't matter when it comes to dealing w/ HS coaches. Just like the pedestrian with right-of-way who gets run over by a car, being "dead" right is not a good thing. Believed the HS coach and didn't have him transfer after sophmore season.
I forgot a real wrong ....
I taught my son who turned out to be lefthanded to throw righthanded when he was three because it ticked me off I couldn't play short when I played. At 6'1", 170 heading into his junior year he's just another pitcher throwing 82-84.
Put the ball in his left hand, add another inch or two and twenty pounds over the next year or so, and sort through the offers as his velocity increases a few more mph.
Because of his speed and ability to read the ball off the bat he's been moved from short to center this fall. He didn't need to be righthanded to play center.
To quote the Animal House, "Thank you. May I have another." Dumb! Dumb! Dumb! At least I got the hitting part correct. He bats left.
I taught my son who turned out to be lefthanded to throw righthanded when he was three because it ticked me off I couldn't play short when I played. At 6'1", 170 heading into his junior year he's just another pitcher throwing 82-84.
Put the ball in his left hand, add another inch or two and twenty pounds over the next year or so, and sort through the offers as his velocity increases a few more mph.
Because of his speed and ability to read the ball off the bat he's been moved from short to center this fall. He didn't need to be righthanded to play center.
To quote the Animal House, "Thank you. May I have another." Dumb! Dumb! Dumb! At least I got the hitting part correct. He bats left.
Did Right....
1) Never got down on him if he pitched poorly
2) Didn't play 'daddy ball' all the years I coached him, and he is a humble team player to this day.
3) Became a member of this site which allowed me to figure out the right things to do, college-wise, despite living overseas.
BONUS) Despite having a Stalker Pro on hand, only gunned him once a year. Same with little brother.
Did Wrong....(and so HS junior brother #2 benefits!)
1) Didn't pay enough attention to the mental game.
2) Hit him in the side of the head with a throw because I wasn't paying attention to the fact that he wasn't looking.
3) Wasted a lot of $$ on a couple worthless and over-hyped summer league teams.
1) Never got down on him if he pitched poorly
2) Didn't play 'daddy ball' all the years I coached him, and he is a humble team player to this day.
3) Became a member of this site which allowed me to figure out the right things to do, college-wise, despite living overseas.
BONUS) Despite having a Stalker Pro on hand, only gunned him once a year. Same with little brother.
Did Wrong....(and so HS junior brother #2 benefits!)
1) Didn't pay enough attention to the mental game.
2) Hit him in the side of the head with a throw because I wasn't paying attention to the fact that he wasn't looking.
3) Wasted a lot of $$ on a couple worthless and over-hyped summer league teams.
Right:
1) Reinforced the work ethic to succeed in baseball.
2) Helped get him exposure
3) Sacrificed financially
Wrong:
1) Took it too seriously at a young age
2) Like Krak says, put him on a few dumb teams.
3) Underestimated his potential. He has consistently exceeded my expectations of him.
1) Reinforced the work ethic to succeed in baseball.
2) Helped get him exposure
3) Sacrificed financially
Wrong:
1) Took it too seriously at a young age
2) Like Krak says, put him on a few dumb teams.
3) Underestimated his potential. He has consistently exceeded my expectations of him.
RJM.
Seems that someone is always attacking the left because they don't do it the right way, LOL.
Just remember, the right handed use the left side of the brain, the left handed use the right side of the brain, so as you can see left handed people are of the right mind. Just look at all the greatest pitchers and hitters.
Thank god they got rid of those old school desks made only for right handers. Where's Got Wood when you need him.
Seems that someone is always attacking the left because they don't do it the right way, LOL.
Just remember, the right handed use the left side of the brain, the left handed use the right side of the brain, so as you can see left handed people are of the right mind. Just look at all the greatest pitchers and hitters.
Thank god they got rid of those old school desks made only for right handers. Where's Got Wood when you need him.
Did right:
1. Spent as much time as my boys wanted on baseball.
2. Taught them not to give up.
3. Taught them they are more important to me than this wonderful game we call baseball...
Did wrong:
1. Didn't play my 2nd to oldest son enough when I was his coach (just ask his mom).
2. During a little league game got into an argument with the drunk player agent who confronted me. I don't like drunks, but I still should have kept my cool.
3. Not using an L-screen during bp for 14U's. It cost me a shattered middle finger from a line drive that I could have gotten out of the way of. I guess I should be fortunate that's all that happened.
1. Spent as much time as my boys wanted on baseball.
2. Taught them not to give up.
3. Taught them they are more important to me than this wonderful game we call baseball...
Did wrong:
1. Didn't play my 2nd to oldest son enough when I was his coach (just ask his mom).
2. During a little league game got into an argument with the drunk player agent who confronted me. I don't like drunks, but I still should have kept my cool.
3. Not using an L-screen during bp for 14U's. It cost me a shattered middle finger from a line drive that I could have gotten out of the way of. I guess I should be fortunate that's all that happened.
Right:
1. Have watched nearly every game he has played since 7. (big sacrifice financially but who cares…...priceless)
2. Coached him until HS and then found people who could take him much farther than I ever could.
3. Always kept a perspective on baseball’s importance in life.
4. Found HSBBW in time! (bonus point)
Wrong:
1. In the early years overestimated the importance of winning and agonized too much over the stupid losses.
2. Got mad one time and said some things I should not have. (fortunately only once)
3. Started a travel team.
Coach Waltrip I learned the L screen lesson at 12...5 stiches in the eye.
1. Have watched nearly every game he has played since 7. (big sacrifice financially but who cares…...priceless)
2. Coached him until HS and then found people who could take him much farther than I ever could.
3. Always kept a perspective on baseball’s importance in life.
4. Found HSBBW in time! (bonus point)
Wrong:
1. In the early years overestimated the importance of winning and agonized too much over the stupid losses.
2. Got mad one time and said some things I should not have. (fortunately only once)
3. Started a travel team.
Coach Waltrip I learned the L screen lesson at 12...5 stiches in the eye.
Add-on my wrong list:
I didn't take enough pictures or shoot video of him when he was a young player. All I have is in my memory -- how excited he was, sleeping in his uniform and with his glove - that kind of 10-year old stuff. I miss that. I hope my memory lasts a long time.
I didn't take enough pictures or shoot video of him when he was a young player. All I have is in my memory -- how excited he was, sleeping in his uniform and with his glove - that kind of 10-year old stuff. I miss that. I hope my memory lasts a long time.