It's OK to dream... And plan.

I think your enthusiasm and passion for helping your son is terrific. 2019Son is an 8th grader and not much older than your son, I believe. And, yes, I'm curious how he stacks up and how this is all going to turn out. And I agree 100% with your "dream big" approach. But in the last few years I've just seen so much movement (some kids getting better far faster than their peers, AND other kids getting passed by their peers), and a gigantic difference -- almost a different game -- moving from a 50'70' field in 12U to a 60'90' field, that I'm hesitant to put too much stock into CURRENT status. But, yes, dream big, and keep working to achieve that dream!

 

       
       
You are right there in my boat 2019.  So I am sure you understand what I am saying.  And as far as current status I think it depends what you look at.  Looking at a.kids BA while maybe not pointless is pretty unreliable I would say.  But 60 times, velocities, pop times...  that can tell you something.  That is the equalizer and gives you an idea of kids can make it on the big field or in the future in general.  Maybe we should start a 7th and 8th graders forum lol.   But you can bet I will be talking to people like you and caco and a few others with kids about our age along the way.  And I feel a sense of comrodery with you guys.  I don't want my kid to beat your kid out I want to all celebrate together a few years down the road.  There is plenty of room in the boat and your kids success does not diminish my kids success.  I guess that's what I am saying in the long run.  Let's help and support not tear down and protect.

I don't think that anybody is telling parents and kids not to dream big and work hard. But that they are young, and lots can change. Enjoy their time playing and be sure they are having fun. At 12 should they be worrying/striving for that D1 scholarship? They should be enjoying the game and time at the field with their family.

It is very difficult to get a D1 scholarship, or D2 even. What happens if they end up being a D1 walk on or a D3 player, with no scholarships. Does that mean they don't match up? That they are not a good player? Some kids will be stopped by Genetics, some by other interests along the way. What are we telling those kids if they do not make it? 

There is nothing in working hard and being the best player they can be, they just need to have fun along the way and be prepared if it does not work out how they hope. As 2019dad said the big field can change a lot of things. 

 

"Let's help and support not tear down and protect."

jolietboy, in my view and experience, 99.9% of the people who post here want your son and every son to be not only the very best player they can be, they want them to achieve at the highest level possible, to achieve their dreams and to love and cherish every minute of their time on the field and with there teammates.  Bob Howdeshell started this site back around 1999 and he did it with the complete unselfish vision to help every son into the future in baseball and the process from HS to college and baseball beyond that. Julie, who took over the site from Bob, no longer has a son playing but she operates this site and sacrifices of her time and money so everyone's son can benefit from the collective experiences and exchanges.

Most posts which I make, at least,  relate to an audience more widespread than the post just before.

When I first started on this site, I did so to learn if and how a D3 kid with a burning desire to do so could get drafted as a position player.  Not all the responses were reassuring but everyone meant something to help me understand the process and provide ideas what our son might need to accomplish to achieve that goal, and the obstacles along the way and what was important and what was not.

The collective thoughts were so helpful when they were considered in light of the experiences of the poster, whether they were positive or made the bar seem almost impossible. That is the history of this site. 

One extreme irony which I have never forgotten about the HSBBW was  that the son of the founder was draft eligible around the same time our son was.  Bob's son was not picked.  About 6 weeks later, in an incredible powerful, poignant and emotional post, Bob talked about his feelings(a post which somehow got lost in one of the site transitions, unfortunately.) Bob and Julie have made this site bigger than any poster, parent or son through their vision, kindness and love of baseball and the next generation of players.  I am sorry to read that you feel there is a negative vibe  from those who suggest approaches different than the one you have chosen for yourself and your son. I am pretty sure none were intended in that way.  The vibrancy of this site is the divergence of experiences and opinions which are shared, combined with a site longevity, all of which have provided proven successes to so many along the way, thanks to Bob and Julie.

Good Luck to your son. I hope you are posting about his NLI or draft slot in about 7 years!

My take is that your first responsibility baseball wise as a parent is to get your kid the skills to compete at the HS level.  Now that could mean different things for different kids.  For some it may mean just playing catch in the back yard.  For others, weekly hitting lessons.  So you as a parent and child make the level of commitment which is important to you.  It is a lot of work and sacrifice for the parent -- driving them everywhere, paying, etc. 

 

Once they get to HS, then it is about being a contributor on the Varsity and then possibly college.  At that point, the kid should pick up a lot of the responsibility, like attending "open gyms" and such.  Once they start driving, they can get to their own lessons.

 

In other words, there is a continuum.  When they are young the parent is naturally more involved and provide more guidance.  As they age, there is less involvement.   

 

I hope no one takes this the wrong way but I'm glad in many ways that I did not find this website until my son was a sophomore in HS. If I would have, I would have probably fretted every injury, ache and pain worrying if that would affect him in HS or college. 

When he was 8,10,12,14 whatever, he was always tall for his age and filled out his frame pretty well. Yeah, he was one of the top pitchers and batters.  Did I think he may play HS ball, much less college ball?  I hoped so but realistically, I knew the odds were against him. We certainly didn't plan on it. We played lots of travel ball, not on any of the national teams that you see now though. I didn't even know they existed. He even won some World Series in Super Series and USSSA. But again, it was just for fun.

My son is now a Senior in HS. At this time last year, there was no one on our team of 12 growing up playing together that had any college commitment, etc. Fast forward to today, one is going to a major D1, one is going to a nationally ranked JUCO, not sure whether any of the other Senior boys will play in college or not. The other two boys are juniors and neither of them have D1 offers but that could change by the time they are Seniors.

Long story, short....many boys will not know until they are Seniors in HS if they will play college baseball. Encourage them to have fun but don't make it about playing college (or HS) baseball when they are young. Just my opinion. 

Continuing on.  In my case, my kid didn't make "all stars" when he was 8.  He was devastated.  It was partially my fault.  "Tryouts" came a lot earlier than I thought and he just was not ready.  I told myself that I can't let that happen again.  He worked for a year (not full time), and made it the next year.  Had a good run and people said go do "travel." 

 

We'll that was a bust.  Several teams passed on him.  He was feeling really rejected and I was coming up with a plan for next year.  Then as luck would have it, he got a spot on what would turn out to be a "great" team.  He got the spot because one part time assistant "loved" him and convinced the head coach to take him -- "you would be stupid not to" where his words.  Boy where we in for it.  

 

At 10, this team was hardcore and over the top.  It was the type of team that most on here would call "stupid," "silly," "crazy," etc.  For an entire winter, they worked.  And worked.  And worked.  And a rag tag bunch of kids started to become baseball players.  You could see it in the way they played catch.  As we drove home from the last practice before the season, I told the kid - "if you don't play one inning, this was worth it.  You have been given a foundation that you can work on from here."  Two weeks later, he hit is first "parking lot" shot. 

 

Now 5 years later, he's had his ups and downs over the years.  That team no longer exists.  But he has worked his game and hopefully is ready to compete in HS (we'll see in a week or so).  If it wasn't for that first team - the work ethic and skills they gave him - I don't think he would have gotten this far.  Many of his friends who played on other teams have given up the game.  Like I said, it was insane.  I though so at the time.  But it was the only choice my kid had.  And it turned out to change him for the better. 

If i were smarter, i'd suspect that most of the contributors on this board who espouse to the younger generation were just as focused on what they thought was important for their kid/sport and development. Experience, retrospection and wisdom allows for the advisory position and most of the time, it is well intended and received. 

 

I know that i have always been too driven expecting perfection with my son regarding his abilities on the baseball field and am just incredibly lucky that i did not drive him away from the sport.

 

Keep the advice coming....just remember to keep it in context of how it really was BITD.

As the parent of a 15 year old HS sophomore, I always try to advise the parents of younger players to try to temper your enthusiasm.  If you ask my son, he'll tell you he's a different player than he was during freshman year.  Very different from what he was as an 8th grader and vastly different from what he was as a 7th grader.  

 

In baseball, as in life, there is an accumulation of experiences and knowledge that CAN help to make you a better player or person.  What someone does with that is up to them.  Some use it to learn and some ignore it.  

 

Of course a strong work ethic will help to make your player a better athlete, student, and person.  But what some perceive as a strong work ethic at 12, becomes a whole different ball game at 14, 16, 20, or you name it.  There are added scholastic and other obligations that decrease their free time.  As they age you will see other parts of their life, be it baseball or classroom skills, that need additional attention.  There are additional freedoms as they age, allowing them to travel on their own or with friends. Not to mention the dreaded girl factor.  (and I say that tongue in cheek)

 

So relax.  It's your job as a parent to HELP your child get a little better, smarter, and stronger every year.  In all of the things that will be important in their lives.  Educate them well and give them space as they age.  See if they make the right decisions when they are on their own.  It's okay to stumble a little now.  You may even have to help them get back up.  But what you don't want is them living so under your thumb that the moment they leave home everything goes to hell.

 

So relax.  Enjoy your children.  I'm sure even the parents of the younger ones can say how fast time has gone since their kid played tee ball.  And I know the parents of the older ones could tell us all many stories.

 

My son is about to start his 2nd year of HS baseball.  And I will, very fortunately, be there for every game this year.  Even the ones during their Florida trip.  I'm going to enjoy every minute of these next 2 1/2 years of HS.  He'll be able to move on and play after HS.  That much I am sure of.  Should he still want to.  And I'm not saying that because he's shown a decrease in anything related to baseball.  But this is life folks and kids sometimes change their goals and their minds.  Either way, I'm confident I am raising a fine young man and that is far more important to me.

 

But do me a favor.  Next time you (and this is not directed at anyone specifically) want to come one here and curse out the coach, the parent of some other player, the ump, the other team, whatever...  Look around.  Are your children healthy?  Is your spouse? How about you?  Take a breath and think about what you are going to complain about. Because there are far more important things in life.

 

I wish all of you nothing but the best.

 

The approach I have always taken with my son (and ALL my other kids....yes they have all played a sport in HS):  If you want to do it and need my help, just ask.  I won't tell you no.

 

Now, that doesn't mean when they ask for a $400 bat or a $300 glove I'm shelling out the cash.  What it means to ME is when they want to work on something, or they just want to talk about a situation, I won't be "too busy" to help.  Need help with your swing?  Let's grab the tee and work it out.  Need to work on your drop step in the OF?  Grab the bucket and let's go.  Need help prepping for the SAT?  Okay, who do I pay for tutoring?! 

 

I will admit to bending this rule on ocassion (by popping my head in the door and asking if they want to hit....the answer is almost always yes), but I try very hard to make sure they are the one(s) who want to work.  After all, it's not my dream...right?

 

Gotta head out the door now, the boy wants some extra BP after practice today (and so does my daughter!).  Been a tough week on the shoulder, but I know how lucky I am to spend that time and re-enforce their work ethic.  Catch ya later.

Bingo!

Another Bingo, and I wish your son the very best this spring!

The older I get the dumber I realize I used to be. Anyone else feel that way?

 

BTW, I'm pretty old, so if you think I'm stupid now, you should have been around in the 50s and 60s.

 

I sure don't consider myself an expert on raising children, but my wife and I raised 4 of them somehow.  I just don't feel qualified to tell people how to raise their children.  However, experience is worth something, and so now I have lots of that. Sometimes wish I had that long before now.

 

Here is one thing I do know.  Dad and Mom, there is nothing wrong with being excited about your favorite player.  Nothing wrong with shooting for the moon, I truly believe in that.  Just know that others are not as likely to share your passion for your son.

 

Most importantly when everything is said and done, baseball simply isn't all that important compared to many other things. Yet at certain times it becomes the most important thing in the world. And just like everything else we all, sooner or later, end up in the scrap heap. That is why everything is important whether you're 10 years old or 40 years old or even older. It is all about memories, please make sure your children have lots of great memories and you will have done a good job. I hope every kid out there shoots for the moon be it in baseball or something else. Using a basketball saying... You can't score if you don't shoot!

 

Not to be overly wishy washy but every post in this thread makes sense to me. Accept for maybe this one.

Good post PG.

I have ONE regret in all the years my son has been involved in bb.

 

That I didn't take the time to really enjoy the moment, of that day, of that season as much as I would have liked to (looking back).  

 

What gets me is why is everyone so much in a hurry? This baseball thing (or any other sport) doesn't last a lifetime. It could be over tomorrow, so enjoy today.

 

My advice, stop thinking so much about the future and concentrate on the present.

 

JMO

So here is my advice.  Know where you are and where you want to go.  Have a plan to get there...  AND enjoy the ride.  Why is it not possible to do both.  I thoroughly enjoy watching my son play.  I have for the past 6 years.  I will continue to enjoy watching him play.  I am quite relaxed and there is no baseball related screaming here.  My kids dreams ARE their OWN.   There are no unrealistic expectations to temper.  Looking forward a bit wondering what the future will hold?  I plead guilty to that.  But I still live in the moment and enjoy every step.  The time we spend together revolving around baseball has created a priceless bond between father and son.  The only real goal I ever had in life was to be a father.  I idolized my dad and the thought of being able to be that important and special in someone's life was so compelling to me.  I love all my kids not just the baseball player.  I know nothing about swimming and never saw a swim meet in my life before a couple of my other kids started swimming (and yes PG those meets are long) but now I am a huge fan.  Point is being proactive in your kids progress does not exclude you from any of the things talked about here.  My son has more fun playing baseball than doing anything else in the world.  We do enjoy the ride.  He does come to me and ask me to take him to the facility.  He asks me to video so we can watch and learn.  He is the captain of his ship and I am the first mate here to help any way I can.  He has a very mature outlook, is a fun loving kid but inside is a burning desire to be the best player HE can be.  And there are definitely genetic ceilings...  but how many of us ever really reach the absolute ceiling?  I believe he can work hard enough to get there.  One footnote though...  for us THERE is not MLB.  It means college.  But you know what I would never discourage him from an MLB dream either!!

Lot of great points made in this thread. I think everyone has a dream, and I think that dream usually changes with time. My son, like most on here, fell in love with baseball at a very early age. I'm certain a lot of it was to "please" dad in the beginning. I love ALL sports to be honest. My son played football, basketball and baseball up through 9th grade. He was very athletic and frankly didn't have to try very hard to be one the best athletes on the field or court. He and I did often talk that natural ability will only take you so far and at some point in time, your work ethic will be the separator as much or more so than your ability. Around 11 or 12, son started talking seriously that he wanted to be a Major League Baseball player. Obviously the odds are EXTREMELY small, but why would I ever tell my child he cannot achieve anything?  If he had said he wanted to be an astronaut, should I discourage that?  I found myself using every opportunity I could to hold him accountable to HIS dream. I reminded him constantly of the effort required to have a chance to make his dream a reality. He is now a senior in high school. I have cherished every minute of it. I have probably missed less than 10 baseball games he has ever played in.  He will be playing baseball at LSU next year. He has accomplished so much already, but he hasn't reached HIS goal. Will he?  Only God knows at this point, but he sure is a lot closer than he was when that dream was first dreamed. The fact that he is left-handed is a blessing and cuts the odds in half. So I will stand behind him and be his biggest cheerleader. And I can promise you one thing, if his dream does materialize, dad will be in the stands watching his dream come to fruition, God willing.

I asked my mentor in the Durham Police Dept one question at his retirement party. If you could do it all over again what is the one thing you would change? He looked me dead in the eye and said. When I was a rookie patrol officer all I could think of was making detective. When I made detective all i could think of was making SGT. When I was a SGT all I could think of was making LT. When I was a LT all I could think of was making Capt. Then all I could think of was making Major. And I spent the last five years thinking of being the Chief. My advice? Enjoy right now. Cherish it. Live in the moment. Because now I would give anything to have that time back.

 

Of course you want them to dream big. Of course you want them to have success. Just make sure you don't miss today by looking ahead to tomorrow. By the way PG your post was beautifully written.

       
       
If I could give this post 10 likes I would!  You captured the very essence of what I have said.  Congrats on LSU that is a major big deal.  I know he will love playing in front of 10000 fans!  Good luck.

 

Funny, I made Detective and that was all I ever wanted to do. I would have stayed there forever.  But after 6 years in Narcotics, then a wife and kid came along and you realize you can pay a lot more bills with those promotions.  I have to admit though, I never rushed those years by.  Too much to learn along the way.

 

Then you did good. I got promoted to SGT 11 years in and wwent to SWAT. Then to narcotics where I finished up. Then my real career started as a coach. Much more dangerous job but just as rewarding. 

 

As did you.  My early years were in Narco (1988-1994), got promoted to Sgt. and then went to ESU (Emergency Services Unit - the NYC area version of SWAT, for all of you non-LE types ).  

 

Coached my kid's local rec team until he was about 10.  Realized I was safer being a cop. 

 

I was not trying to draw attention to my son. There are many posters (TPM, PG and others) whose sons have already accomplished way more than my kid. I know a couple of the current posters (RedFish and Shoveit) have son's in the same boat as mine and I guarantee you they are equally as proud. I agree to live in the moment and enjoy it now. I cannot believe my son is starting his last year of high school. But, I want others with young kids to know that it is ok for their kids to aim for the moon. Dream large!  Nothing can be accomplished if you don't dream and believe.

This is an eclectic community of contributors from many walks of life who share a passion for youths playing baseball. Advice is often sought but not appreciated because sometimes the truth is not always accepted as lightly as is requested. If you don't want frankness, don't ask your questions on this sight. There are many combined years of experience on this sight and seldom are 'holds barred'. If you can accept reality, ask away. You'll get plenty of responses, some not to your liking. Enjoy where your child is at the present, while making yourself aware of possibilities. If your kid is a stud you won't need validation from others, you'll know. If he's marginal then this sight is invaluable, pay attention. Live in the moment but plan for the future, blah blah blah. My 2 cents

 

Awesome school, coach, fans,food and culture down there in the Bayou. You have to scoot over to NO one weekend and eat at Joey Ks in the quarter.

Great thread and great responses!

 

I believe in dreaming big.  There are those that talk a good game and those who are achievers and planners.  They go about their business in the right way and they never call attention to themselves.  Their actions and achievements do all the talking for them.

 

That is the number one piece of advice I can give.  Encourage your kids to dream big. Encourage them to plan and make it happen.  Encourage them to be doers and not talkers.  Parents be the same way.  Love your kids for who they are not for what you think they ought to be.  Deeds not dialog is the way to make dreams come true.

I am not really sure the purpose of the OP.  But I think his concerns about certain things have been answered pretty well and the common thread is to enjoy the moments.
I get vibes from some of the posts here from pre teen parents that some have anxiety (cant hide it been there and done it) and hopefully you are not passing that onto your player.  The process is about steps..making the high school team, then trying to make a good travel team for exposure, doing showcases at the appropriate time (everyone is different), working hard in the classroom, preparing for standarized tests, visiting college campuses maybe a college camp, applying for the clearinghouseand so on and so forth. You cant get to step C before A and B.
FWIW, there is a pre-teen forum. Or you all can have private dialogues as a group if preferred.
Hunter brings up excellent points about this site. He gets it.
JMO

Amen CD!

...FWIW, there is a pre-teen forum. Or you all can have private dialogues as a group if preferred....

 

another rock tossed from the mountain top down on the great unwashed.

       
       
You could not be more correct that sometimes people come seeking advice but what they really want is reassurance.  And sometimes it becomes a hornets nest for them.  I know I have been maybe a bit harsh or judgmental sometimes with these folks (the whole politics thing comes to mind).  But essentially you are correct don't ask for advice if you really don't want it.  Personally I have asked for input four times since being on.  Regarding timing pitchers strides, recruiting big kids from your own hallways, best college venues and when did your son first get recruited and what was his velocity.  They all drew great responses which were.much appreciated.  Especially the when was your son recruited.  This is why I love this site.  You come on asking a question and you definitely get answers.  But personally, and I can only speak for myself, I have never asked for personal advice or opinions about my son's future potential.  In the heat of debate perhaps something could be construed as that I suppose (certainly not going to go back and read every post I have written).  The vast majority of people on here are awesome.  I have a blast posting and reading.  I almost feel like some quasi friendships are forming here so things are 99% great.  Through years of teaching and coaching you develop a pretty thick skin so a few people maybe giving me some less than positive unsolicited advice isn't going to send me packing.  But there are some people that are a little more sensitive.   In my short time here I have seen a few people come on, get beat up pretty good, and never be heard from again.  I reached out to one of them in a PM to let them know that pretty much all of us get that 'initiation' when we first come in but never got a reply and never saw him on here again.  Incidentally I got that same reach out (thank you very much) from a veteran when I got my 'initiation' and was raked over the coals pretty good when I first got on here.  So lets keep the debates rolling agree to disagree nicely, be a little more sensitive to newcomers and if we have unsolicited advice we really think is important put it in an PM in a friendly and helpful fashion.  Thats my 2 cents!  (Jolietboy now strapping on helmet and cowering in foxhole lol.)

Go44dad,
Did you bother to read all of jolietboys posts? He mentioned about having  a forum  for 7th and 8th graders...there is one...duh.  So I suggest you do your homework before you post.
Jolietboy,
You did a good job explaining , enjoy the journey.

That was kinda funny. However, there are other MBs for pre-HS players&parents as well as the sub-boards mentioned here. Pretty soon, we'll be seeing posts about making cuts on the tee ball teams. HA!

 

Play by the rules folks!

 

The HS Baseball Web is an Internet home for high school baseball players, parents, coaches and fans.

What will you find here?

• Articles about college baseball recruiting, scholarships, and the MLB draft
• Interviews with college coaches and pro scouts  
• Recruiting "how to"  
• Links to other baseball resources, camps and showcases  
• A "world famous" message board communit

To be fair though these boards take on a wide variety of topics high school baseball being only one of those topics and arguably no longer the main topic.  The quest for the holy grail (college ball) seems to be most prevalent.   And the posters are a wide variety from teenage players to parents of pre teens, hs parents, college parents, pro parents as well as parents of kids who no longer play at all.  Come one come all.  Welcome and enjoy!

There are times that this board can be frustrating. There are those that are coming on here early in the journey and there are those who have been through it and come here to offer advise based on their experience. I happen to fit in both camps, having been through the process with daughters who are 32 and 23 and going through it anew with my Freshman son. Both sides of the equation often lose perspective. For the new parents of up-and-coming players, you need to be able to take the advise of those who have been here before you and maybe take a good look at where you are and make a good analysis of whether you, indeed, have things in proper perspective. For those who have been through the wars before, often you don't understand or acknowledge that your experience is just that - your experience. It may vary greatly from the experiences of otheres, it may come from a time where youth ball was differetn, etc. Be open to the idea that maybe you didn't actually "see it all" when your kid was younger. Maybe, just maybe, there are things you didn't experience in your journey and that the map through this isn't "one-size-fits-all." If this is all kept in mind, this board is the best resource available.

Advice is something offered, it doesn't have to be followed or even agreed with. There is good advice and there is bad advice.  What is good advice for one person could be terrible advice for another person.

 

Usually advice is given with very good intentions. It is often based on personal knowledge and experience.  However the same advice doesn't always fit every situation.  I won't give advice on certain things... Like... should I sign or go to college?  Should I take this offer or that offer?

 

What ever my advice might be, it could end up being the worst advice ever.  The perfect fit for me, might be the worst for you.  People are different, we don't all wear the same size shoes. We don't all think the same way or place importance on the same things. So I really don't see anything wrong with someone disagreeing with my advice. I haven't exactly figured everything out. I do think it would be good if a little politeness and diplomacy were used in those disagreements.  Then once again, we are all different. I know things that some of you don't know and you all know things that I don't know.

 

As an example of advice... I once had a talk with Kurt Warner and his dad about Kurt's future.  I strongly advised them that Kurt's future was in baseball and that he should play baseball in college. I'm sure glad they didn't take that advice.

Yep, he had a pretty good career as a running back for the Seahawks.  Oh wait.....

Sometimes I think these boards are a great avenue to just express ones thoughts with others who are in common with the subject.  I know that through my son's career there were very few parents you could rant, vent, boast, etc. with for many reasons. Putting our thoughts in words on these boards is a great way to deal with the emotions that come with parenting and that of our children playing a sport at any age and any level. Also, to be able to share the experience that this site with its posters,is to me, priceless.  

 

As many have said, above and beyond anything, enjoy the moment. 

Jolietboy my son is 14 and in the 8th grade a 2019 so we are in a similar situation.

When my son was 10 he ended up having a heck of a district all-star tournament. He was the top pitcher and top hitter in the tournament and unlike the majority of the top players he was average to below average in size. This got my mind racing. Holy crap is my son really this good. Could he maybe play college. Oh my lord he's going pro. So I started getting excited. Decided he needed to move to travle ball and start getting better instruction. I scoured the Internet looking for any info I could get to help him reach, well my goal, of him going pro. I found some message boards like this one and others. And guest what, I was blasted with calm down and relax. I thought they were all idiots and jerks. How dare they tell me I'm a bad father for doing everything in my power to make my son a pro or college ball player. How dare the tell me 10U and 11U wasn't important. Then I calmed down and started listening. Thank the lord I did. I kept my son in rec till 13. I relaxed more and just enjoyed it. I was able to start out relaxed with my daughter and believe me I enjoyed t-ball much much more with her. Sometimes the advice we need to hear isnt the advice we want to hear. At least it was for me. And I (and my son) will be eternally greatfull I found sites like this and had that good advice beaten into my thick head. I realized I loved watching my son play baseball because of how good he was at it. Now I love watching my son play baseball because of how much joy he has playing it.

Scotty,
Bravo!  You get it!!!

I thought about those words underlined above and wonder how many kids are given unrealistic dreams, especially by private baseball instructors.  There is a Dad that I've known a few years whose son is now a freshman in high school.  He has played baseball since he was 8 and according to his Dad has received private instruction yearly for a few years now.  This Dad really believes his son is a great baseball player and will continually do well and i think he has convinced a few other teammates as well.  This kid is average at best but I'm always positive when speaking to the Dad. However I feel like the friend of the guy whose wife just had one of the most ugly babies in the world.

http://youtu.be/rkadtxlCRU4