Respect the game

I think the 10 rules cited are a great guideline. The "leave it on the field" is one that I need to consider as a Dad. Baseball is a game of failure...yet if I see my Son fail, it is difficult for me to allow that to be left on the field where I did not get the opportunity to add my two cents. This is an area where I as a parent need to become a better Father and understand that my Son is well aware if he did not execute a play, or an at bat to the best of his ability. He is a better player and knows more about the game then I do and really has since he was 12 or 13. I as a parent need to Let my Son Leave it on the Field. My role at this point is to encourage. I am not completely successful with this approach (in other words, I fail to execute), bus as each practice and each game goes by, I will resolve to allow my Son to Leave it on the Field,

FloridaFan that is a great post and I know exactly where you are coming from. There comes a time when they already know what we are trying to tell them. And they get frustrated when we "start in on them". I have found that when they are ready, they come to us. The last thing a kid needs to hear after a tough ab or tough game is dad grinding them about stuff they already know. I have found that the best way for me to handle this is to have another coach approach him at some point and time and talk with him. And I have also found that when he is ready to talk he will come to me. Some kids put alot of pressure on themselves and they care a great deal about winning and their performance. No need for us to be the extra baggage that they have to carry around. JMHO

We dads have to tread lightly. A lot depends on the age, or should i say the development, of the kid. I have seen many dads who rode their boys pretty hard thru the middle school years and then in the high school years the kids really rebeled against this... I've heard kids get really disrespectful to the dad just outside the dugout trying to get in one "last little bit of coaching"...

Funny you should say that Coach May, but that is exactly how I have learned to handle it. My Son has a former pro player who is his instructor (we asked him to be our Son's mentor). He and I communicate, and if anything is out of wack or needs to be addressed I communicate with his "Mentor" and he deals with it. Biggest problem for me is getting my kid to eat enough so he keeps gaining weight through the season. My Son's "Mentor" is able to hold him accountable in ways that I as a Dad cannot. I should add, that I have the ability to hold my Son accountable, but to what end? If he feels like I am pushing too hard it only leads to tension between us. This is not what I want, and can easily become counterproductive.

Florida fan:
great posts... I just may copy those off and include them in a packet available to parents some day....

Coach May... when can you guys start?

Official practice starts 2-12 we scrimmage on 2-17.

Fla Fan-Nice Post. You are not alone in this club, there are only a few that admit to being in it. Another group just asks that you take it one day at time....

The greatest joy a parent can have is watching his/her child suceed on his/her own. The pride and satisfaction from these moments are the absolute best.