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The Hay is in the Barn!

CoachB25CoachB25Honorary "Old TImer"
I wanted to share with you a talk I've had the last few years with my daughter and let you think on it some. She plays her first game of the year tomorrow in a domed tournament. She has worked very hard and was able to get her throwing and hitting work in all winter and even did so today. She didn't lift today since she plays tomorrow early. As always, she's so excited to play. I'm sure yours are as well. She will have a definate challenge since the girl that will probably pitch against them tomorrow is considered the best in the nation. She can bring the big time heat and is reported to be throwing 70 now. I've seen her and it is awe inspiring. Well, my daughter sat in the car as we arrived home and I looked at her and said, "The Hay is in the Barn."

The meaning of this phrase is that the hard work is done and time to enjoy yourself and your efforts. I ask her every time to PLEASE just enjoy playing now. I don't know how many times she has ended a game with a loss, been a good sport and shook hands, talk to teammates and then entered the car and fell apart. She's geared kind of high and it scares us sometimes. Again, I'm betting that some of your kids are the same. I told her that the rough, yell, etc. Dad is done now and so tomorrow, I'll be the cheerleader. She doesn't like that much. I told her that if this ever becomes work that she doesn't have to play. I told her we love her no matter what. I told her the type of person she is is a lot more important than the athlete she is. She has gotten better and so, she promised to try to enjoy the moment more. Just for fun she said, "The Hay is in the Barn" and then made fun of my sayings. Something for us to all think about.

"Failure depends upon people who say I can't."  - my dad's quote July 1st, 2021.  CoachB25 = Cannonball for other sites.

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MO mom of 2 catchers100+ posts
nice post.

Sometimes it is very difficult in any sport to remember that it is just a game after all. Especially when it seems to take so much "work" to get there.

My sons push themselves so hard. Aside from a very minimal amount of advice (back in the day, mom was a catcher too), I have always just been the cheerleader. That is what I do best. I hate to watch the overzealous parents yelling at their kids during games. I have faith that the actual coaches are doing their job and I am a supportive fan of the team. I'm sure it is difficult, but I applaud your ability to keep the parent separate from the coach, I think it is especially difficult for the parents who as a profession are coaches.

I have also been on those terrible car rides when their frustration level at either their own performance, the team's, the umps, or whatever has been nearly more than they can stand. I usually just listen during those times.

Coach, I think that you are absolutely correct when you remind her that when it stops being fun and starts being work, then it is time to hang up the glove. Good luck to you and your daughter.

The hay is in the barn, it is time to enjoy the harvest!! I am going to use that on my boys...
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
quote:
The meaning of this phrase is that the hard work is done and time to enjoy yourself and your efforts. I ask her every time to PLEASE just enjoy playing now. I don't know how many times she has ended a game with a loss, been a good sport and shook hands, talk to teammates and then entered the car and fell apart. She's geared kind of high and it scares us sometimes. Again, I'm betting that some of your kids are the same. I told her that the rough, yell, etc. Dad is done now and so tomorrow, I'll be the cheerleader. She doesn't like that much. I told her that if this ever becomes work that she doesn't have to play. I told her we love her no matter what. I told her the type of person she is is a lot more important than the athlete she is. She has gotten better and so, she promised to try to enjoy the moment more. Just for fun she said, "The Hay is in the Barn" and then made fun of my sayings. Something for us to all think about.

Coach - I love all these thoughts and relate to them. I did not grow up on a farm but worked for many farmers over the summer bailing hay during my youth. For those that have never experienced the pleasure, it is one of the hardest jobs one can imagine - unimaginable heat and physical exaustion. To get the hay in the barn and prepare for the long winter requires much work and planning. After it is in the barn, it is time to have fun and let the chips fall where they may as you implied - that is a good message Smile
fanofgamefanofgame5,000+ posts
Coach B25,

good post. I think a lot of us have those competitive type kids that drive themselves and want to do well all the time. I remember many of those car rides home also. We started when he was young to ask him to tell us one good thing that happened in the game. sometimes on a bad day it was hard to come up with something.If he had a bad day offensively we would point out an awesome defensive play, maybe he had a really good at bat but it wasnt a hit, but he battled and picked good pitches to swing at. Another thing a dad told me once that he said they do in the majors was they have a batting average of course but then a separate hit the ball hard avg. this really helped if you have 3 at bats and you hit line drives right to somebody.most great competitors have this type of personality. and we have told our son over the years when he is being a little too negative : are you having fun because if its this bad it cant be fun , that seems to put it into perspective.

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