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@MountainMomof4 Thanks for sharing this. Great message here.
So, for those beginning that upward climb, you've heard it from parents whose kids are done, you've heard it from experts whose business it is to provide a path, and now you've heard it from a top college coach.
Excellent, thanks for sharing
I couldn't help but analyze some of my mistakes in the past with my son as well. He loves playing for this guy at Clemson. Go Tigers!
Goosegg posted:So, for those beginning that upward climb, you've heard it from parents whose kids are done, you've heard it from experts whose business it is to provide a path, and now you've heard it from a top college coach.
Yup! 
Monte Lee is awesome and tells it like it is, parents wake up and listen to what he says.
My son really enjoyed working along side of him and using his philosophy in his coaching.
Fantastic. I only wish he could travel the country spreading this message to every parent. Thanks for posting.
I heard monte speak at an end to camp this year. He basically tells players what he looks for, same points basically.
He also said hug your mom everyday and explained he wouldnt be where he is today without his mom!!!! 
Might be worth a trip to one of his camps.
Should be required viewing for all parents regardless if their college bound student plays college level sports or not.
Coach Lee rocks!
#TRUTH
Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that growing up he was punished for getting bad grades but at the same time he believes that one learns by failing. I wonder what role punishing for bad grades plays in the grand scheme.
Awesome stuff! Doesn't matter if kids are little league or high school senior, all that works!
It's all good, but my favorite line is "first and foremost we've turned baseball into a country club sport." But, my guess is that is the one line with which many will disagree.
too.tall posted:Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that growing up he was punished for getting bad grades but at the same time he believes that one learns by failing. I wonder what role punishing for bad grades plays in the grand scheme.
It helps you learn...
I agree with most of what he has to say. He says a lot of important things. A couple things I did differently, and I would still do differently. I used to give Ryan a Gatorade before the game started, and I don't really see anything wrong with that. The other point he mentioned is that parents should be involved in helping choose the right academic school. I would argue that parents meeting the coaches and providing input to their son on the coaches is not a bad thing either, since you would most likely provide a different perspective than your child. Ultimately, it is the kids' decision, and I would only provide input.
In the end, Ryan ended up where he did based on his decisions. He wanted to go to CSI and pitch for his current PC, and he decided to go sign with Purdue for next season. I agree that you should let the kids make their decisions, but I also think you should provide some guidance.
Here is what I gleamed:
1. Kid should be responsible for his own gatorade and snickers....check!
2. Kids should talk to coach, not parents talking to coach....check!
3. Coach might be tough on a kid, but that's okay....check!
4. Parents are in charge of kids social life and academic life, coach is responsible for baseball...check!
5. Parents yelling at the kid from the stand causes pressure....duh...and check!
Was any of that up for debate on this site?
You're right, there's nothing earth-shattering there. Just nice to hear a coach confirm what most people SHOULD already know.
rynoattack posted:I used to give Ryan a Gatorade before the game started, and I don't really see anything wrong with that.
On my third kid now who is 8. Went to his little hoopsters game a couple weeks ago. When we walked into the gym he asked me for his water. I simply asked if he grabbed his water jug from home and he said no. So I pointed out where the drinking fountain was located. The following week he got his own jug of water ready before leaving the house on his own. With the first kid, I would have purchased a Gatorade from the snack bar and brought it to him.
too.tall posted:Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that growing up he was punished for getting bad grades but at the same time he believes that one learns by failing. I wonder what role punishing for bad grades plays in the grand scheme.
I am a former teacher and I punished my kids for poor grades. It was tough on them for sure, no TV, no video games!
It worked in the grand scheme. 
TPM posted:too.tall posted:Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that growing up he was punished for getting bad grades but at the same time he believes that one learns by failing. I wonder what role punishing for bad grades plays in the grand scheme.
I am a former teacher and I punished my kids for poor grades. It was tough on them for sure, no TV, no video games!
It worked in the grand scheme.
Thanks. This is the kind of feedback I am looking for. How do you motivate a kid who has tremendous baseball talent but lacks an iron butt?
too.tall posted:TPM posted:too.tall posted:Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that growing up he was punished for getting bad grades but at the same time he believes that one learns by failing. I wonder what role punishing for bad grades plays in the grand scheme.
I am a former teacher and I punished my kids for poor grades. It was tough on them for sure, no TV, no video games!
It worked in the grand scheme.
Thanks. This is the kind of feedback I am looking for. How do you motivate a kid who has tremendous baseball talent but lacks an iron butt?
Not like I have all the answers but I showed my son very early that sports were not a top priority.
He decided to be the class clown one day so I made him miss a football game. I also made him go to the game and sit in the stands and explain repeatedly why he wasn't playing.
I was very surprised that the other coaches said that I was penalizing the team. I made it clear that it wasn't about the team.
Another time at a first baseball practice, he was introduced as my son who wouldn't be practicing today because he couldn't stop talking in class.
This stuff happened at around seven or eight and I've had very few issues since then.
hshuler posted:too.tall posted:TPM posted:too.tall posted:Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that growing up he was punished for getting bad grades but at the same time he believes that one learns by failing. I wonder what role punishing for bad grades plays in the grand scheme.
I am a former teacher and I punished my kids for poor grades. It was tough on them for sure, no TV, no video games!
It worked in the grand scheme.
Thanks. This is the kind of feedback I am looking for. How do you motivate a kid who has tremendous baseball talent but lacks an iron butt?
Not like I have all the answers but I showed my son very early that sports were not a top priority.
This!
The whole point that Coach was trying to make, sports comes second to everything else. You don't participate unless you earn that right to.
TPM posted:hshuler posted:too.tall posted:TPM posted:too.tall posted:Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that growing up he was punished for getting bad grades but at the same time he believes that one learns by failing. I wonder what role punishing for bad grades plays in the grand scheme.
I am a former teacher and I punished my kids for poor grades. It was tough on them for sure, no TV, no video games!
It worked in the grand scheme.
Thanks. This is the kind of feedback I am looking for. How do you motivate a kid who has tremendous baseball talent but lacks an iron butt?
Not like I have all the answers but I showed my son very early that sports were not a top priority.
This!
The whole point that Coach was trying to make, sports comes second to everything else. You don't participate unless you earn that right to.
My son will tell you that if he doesn't maintain a certain GPA, he knows he can't play....and I'm not talking about just passing. Our standard is different from the school eligibility requirements.
Try reasoning and logic first.
When that doesn't work (which is most of the time), lay out the rules ("no turning in homework, no going to practice").
Then, as painful as it is, follow through. (I am not a believer that corporal punishment for academics particularly yields results.)
Conversely, good effort and good results should be lavashly praised and should go hand in hand with parent(s) who are involved in school (e.g., never miss a parent/teacher conference, the school science fair, poetry reading, math contest, whatever to "show the flag" that academics and intellecual development matters, and don't focus totally on the school athletic program).
(I would also emphasize, that a learning disability may be present which the kid has been able to hide from view through behavioral adaptations. Just don't assume little Johnny is lazy; assume there is a real reason he is not/will not focus on school. The earlier the root of the problem is identified, the more tools to address the issue can be employed. I have known kids who hid their LD until well into HS - at which point it's harder to address because their behavioral adaptations are now firmly engrained. But it's better later than never.)
It's way more important to find out why Johnny doesn't like to read than stopping Johnny from stepping out of the box when a big kid with a big FB is on the mound.
Goosegg, VERY good point about the LD side of life. I know of a very talented high school athlete, he dominates on the football field but was told he could not try out for the baseball team because of his grades. I've talked with the boy, I have no idea what his specific issue is but I suspect greatly that if Dad would ask the school to test him there would be a big one...but the dad won't. He's more into the "The boy better wake up and start caring about school" philosophy, not actually looking into any other reason why the boy has had to repeat grade levels or does poorly on even the standardized tests.