Who's teaching your son?

I was my son's baseball teacher. But I only could teach to him what I knew. I think the best favor I did to my son was to determinate when was the time when I need to get out of his way up. From that point on, I started to learn from others and from him self.

"Peace is, the respect for the other people's rights".
Benito Juarez

If I'd had the baseball acuity and time I would have loved to have been my son's primary instructor. Unfortunately, occasional work demands and a glaring lack of baseball ability limited my ability to do so. However, we were fortunate enough to have The Yard, a training facility with excellent instruction featuring former ML players and college players, at our doorstep. It's been a drain on the family finances at times. But, in hindsight it's been worth it as his work with Atlee Hammaker helped him develop his skills to the point that he is able to pitch at the college level.

These types of opportunities certainly were not available when I was growing up.

Krakatoa, I admire you for being able to devote the time and attention to your son.

I have been the primary coach and mentor of my son, who is a few weeks away from turning 11. I went pretty far with my baseball career, only to be cut short by an injury in Rookie Ball... so I think I know a few things about the game.

As any wise man, I know enough to know that I do not know it all. (unlike so many others I have met) There will be a time to turn his tutelage over to a wiser baseball man. I don't know when that will be yet.... but it is inevitable

cong

"In baseball, you don't know nothing." - Yogi

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Am curious how many of you also are/were the largest, or sole, contributor to your son's baseball development?

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Yes I take credit for both my son's development in baseball. I have worked with them from a very young age. My objective was for nothing other than a good relationship with my sons and still is.

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I feel badly sometimes, especially when my kids overhear that so-and-so is off again to Florida for private, professional training.

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I wouldn't worry about not being able to send your kid to something that's not afforadable to you. Plan some other reachable training for your kid with a local coach or ex-highschool player.

Most MLB athletes were never from rich families. I've seen an example of a team with players of so-called high talent from rich families that had all the rich-man opportunities whom were supposedly highly recruited but in the end it was the poor-kid with raw athletic ability that they all chased.

Continue working with your son and enjoy every minute. Now that is something that's truly "priceless".

Knowledge is Power! Thank you Mavens and HSBBWEB!

One kid who played with one of my sons in Little League was a Div. 1 Freshman All-American last year. He played LL, Babe Ruth, and High School ball. Never played on a "select" travel team. Never attended a showcase. Never had a "professional" lesson that I know of. Went to one college camp while in high school (a good one.)
I know a half dozen kids who had dozens of professional baeball training sessions each year, starting at ages as low as 9. The ones who haven't quit yet are playing at 100% of their ability or close to it - which is to say, they range from a little above average to pretty good. No superstars among 'em.

Moral: don't sweat it.

D'oh!

I take credit for hindering my son's progress as well as helping it. I just like to tinker too much. Now he goes to an instructor for the hitting and an instructor for the pitching and all I do is provide reps by throwing BP, hitting grounders, catching bullpens and playing long toss. Sometimes I still end up tinkering but he does far better when I just help him get the reps.

I go back ten years or more to when my son came out of high school. Obviously things were quite different back them--- fortunately we lived in a town where the coaching was good --his coach at 12 years of age was the same coach who had him on the JV team and I knew scouts and coaches who were good evaluators and connsultants to us.

I think I was there in the formative stages and for the betterment of my son I turned him over to good solid coaches who I trusted from the age of 12 on.

I feel that I instilled the basics in him and those that followed me refined it all but we did always talk about his game etc up until he left for college.

YES he did play major Division I college baseball thus I can say whatever we did--it worked !!!!

TRhit

My husband coached my son for three years and then decided that it would be best for both not to anymore. We were very fortunate to have found very knowledgeable people coach my son throughout the years. We have never paid for a private pitching lesson, hitting lesson. There was no need to as far as anyone was concerned. Not that we couldn't afford it, but as Chicks stated we knew his "raw talent" would get him where he wanted to go. The path we chose was to give him every opportunity to play as much baseball as he could from age 5 until now, deciding how to spend our money wisely by choosing good teams, tournaments and showcases.
Don't feel badly about not being able to send your son to fancy camps,or for private lessons, etc. It really isn't all that necessary.
I know people who have spent small fortunes trying to help improve on their son's abilities and I don't think they will ever see anything for their investments.

My son, who is now a freshman in college, grew up in my dugout and at my team's practices. Having a dad as a college coach he was able to learn from my players every year and travel with my team to trips down south from first grade on up. I did coach him from age 9-14, but there is no doubt he picked up so much infomration just from being around the game his whole life. When he takes the mound he has veteran saavy, not to mention a 6-3, 170 pound body that throws now 90+. I am not coaching any more, so I will be able to see more of his games as a D-I pitcher. It has been fun.

Okay, I feel better now! I do know that the "Have a catch" scene in Field of Dreams has tears JUMPING out of my eyeballs now because of the closeness I have with the kids on this. Thanks all.
P-Dog, I won't sweat it. Words of wisdom - thanks.
Grateful - noticed you're from Michigan. I lettered four years for the Northville High Mustangs ("Western 6 Conference" - don't know if it still exists - northwest suburban Detroit area, basically).

"Son, when you pitch a strike, Mr. Hornsby will let you know."

I would like to always be involved in my sons baseball. But , thats not possible as we all know . I just wish there were more "good " coaches out there. I believe the talent of players is as high as it has always been but the coaching in general is not what it once was.
I wish I could type fast enough to explain more about that.

This topic reminds me of the UAB banquet a few nights ago where Phil Niekro was the guest speaker. He had to have said over a dozen times in his speech, "My dad was the reason for my success and the reason I am in the Hall of Fame today." He also said that after his no hitter he called his dad and his father's comments were, "My coffee sure taste better this morning." From that moment on he vowed to make his father's morning coffee taste good.

Good story Bama!

the Florida Bombers
"I love the HSBBW"

Krakatoa, relax
I coached, transported,sponsored,trained,and ejoyed every minute with my son. I guess to me that is what a father is about. I also took a few through the L screen, or been on the other side of some serious surgical rubber coming loose off a weight belt during resistance running. Overall I would not trade. Also I was fortunate to have very accesible coaches, camps, showcases, and training centers up North here in Michigan. I do not think there is a wrong or right way to go however, as with any knowledge or skill. You would not expect to see a world class brain surgeon, golfer, lawyer, or baseball player reach their goal without some professional help.

Krakatoa,
You bring up a very good topic. I also like the responses. I have read many times the game is mostly mental and not physical. I tend to agree with that. I know very little about the actual game other than what a normal fan would know so I could not really address the “instruction” side of baseball. I admit I did point out a few obvious areas that needed improvement. Yes, I coached a few years but I am not a coach, I am not a teacher, I am not an instructor. I am just a father. Sure I read a few books and looked at a few tapes, but that is the extent of my baseball knowledge. What I did the most, was talk to my son. I tried to put everything in perspective for a ten year old and then explain it so he could understand. I have done this for the past ten years. The message is always the same, but the delivery has changed as he matured. Since he’s almost twenty, I have become more of a sounding board….the one he asks for advice on occasion. I explained what talent was and what hard work is. I explained the total number of kids that play baseball and how very few of those kids eventually end up in the pros. I explained that if he failed to work hard, then he would still be good, but he would never be the best that he could be. I complimented him on his blisters, his calloused hands, and ridiculed his laziness. I made him a breakfast of bacon and eggs, OJ and milk each morning and asked him to stay away from certain things. I made him a pitching exercise area with homemade gimmicks to build his arm strength. I built a hitting area in the basement and soft tossed till I was blue in the face. I framed his home run balls, his no-hitters, his perfect game, and his college jerseys. I organized his plaques and pictures. I re-laced his glove and every player’s glove on his team. I drove him to practice and set in the stands at every practice. I kept the books for the teams. I built the bleachers. I signed a $20,000.00 note at the bank to build a concession stand and a press box and then I spent hundreds of hours building the press box and concession stand. I created and maintained two websites for the teams. If it needed to be done I did it. I was fortunate that I could take the time to do it. I really feel as if my son’s ability to play baseball was a gift. There are many that deserve the credit for instructing him and refined his tools along the way. I am not one of those that deserve that credit for “teaching” him skills. All I did was help him understand who he was, what he was, what he could become, and pointed him in what I thought was the right direction.
Fungo

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

Krakatoa,

I think the largest contributor to my son's baseball development was my son. The willingness to believe in himself at all times - and the willingness to work hard through the good times and the bad times - is what defines success in my mind. Not stats, or awards - or levels of achievement.

He learned alot of baseball skills and alot about the game from alot of people - but at the end of the day - I think the desire to "succeed" is the most critical element - and that comes from within the person himself. I'm not sure if anyone can teach that.

Just my opinion.

More great things to ponder. I may print these and keep a little book for myself. Fungo, we need to start a Father-of-the-Year rally for ya. Your letter made me see many holes I need to work on filling in my own fathering. Thanks for sharing your experience.

"Son, when you pitch a strike, Mr. Hornsby will let you know."

I recently read a book GROWING UP BASEBALL.It is a collection of short autobiographies of baseball player dating back to the depression era. Within the first paragraph of almost every story were the words" my Dad and I".

Fathers can teach, encourage, but self motivation and personal desire are common traits of champions. For some the desire to apply the skills that the father cultivated can be the self motivation.

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Originally posted by CADad:
I take credit for hindering my son's progress as well as helping it. I just like to tinker too much. Now he goes to an instructor for the hitting and an instructor for the pitching and all I do is provide reps by throwing BP, hitting grounders, catching bullpens and playing long toss. Sometimes I still end up tinkering but he does far better when I just help him get the reps.

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that is basically my function also. to provide reps
regardless of what he needs.BP, grounders,IF
popups, a catcher and so on. his knowledge
exceeds mine which is a good thing. I may
make suggestions but never tinker.

Fungo I loved your post. More parents should read it.

Bama Bomber good to hear from you again. Its been along time since I have seen a post of yours.

Seadog

The choices we make dictate the lives we lead.

Last millenium my baseballer was on a 12 YO LL team that came within one pitch of winning the NY State championship and move a step closer to the Williamsport Tournament. While it did not happen I did find out that a solid 1/3 to 1/2 members of the team were taking lessons from a former Toronto BlueJays pitcher in our neighborhood. I was the only teacher to that point. I grabbed one of the last 2 available spaces right away.
These lessons were worth every penny (16 YO Championship trophy, 2 HS Division Winners, 18 YO Championship/MVP trophies and Scholarship $$$$$$).
When he came down with mono I put my older daughter into the lessons. result = Girls Softball County Champions.
It is not just getting lessons, it is getting good lessons.
The good dad should know when he has reached his limit and defer to someone who can finish the job. Everytime my baseballer was at bat my heart was in my throat, I am glad it lasted so long thanks to the investment I made.

Willie, Mickey and the Duke

FIRST,I THINK MANY OF THE POSTS I READ ARE EXCELLENT.MY OPINION IS,IT DEPENDS MANY TIMES ON THE SITUATION.SOME FATHERS WHOSE KID PLAYS,
MAY NOT HAVE A CLUE OR HAVE NEVER PLAYED THE GAME.MANY PLAYERS,INCLUDING EX-PRO'S,MAY HAVE BEEN GREAT PLAYERS BUT TERRIBLE TEACHERS.MANY KIDS HAVE PROBLEMS LEARNING FROM THERE FATHER AFTER A CERTAIN AGE.IN THIS I AM RELATING TO THE
[SKILLS] OF PLAYING[IT IS BETTER TO NOT TEACH A SKILL THAN TO TEACH IT WRONG,THE MUSCLE MEMORY
OF A SKILL THAT WAS LEARNED WHICH WAS WRONG IS
HARDER TO FIX THAN TEACH THE SKILL FROM SCRATCH.
WITH THAT IN MIND,FINDING A GOOD TEACHER WHO HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD DEVELOPING PLAYERS IS
VERY IMPORTANT.ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS PLAYED
IN THE MAJORS FOR 8 YEARS AND COACHED IN THE MINORS AND WAS AN EXCELLENT HITTER, HAS HIS KID TAKING LESSONS FROM A HITTING COACH[MOST TIMES
IT'S TOO TOUGH TEACHING YOUR WIFE TO DRIVE]MY SON
WOULD NOT LET ME TEACH HIM AFTER HE WAS 11 BUT
WOULD LISTEN RESPECTFULLY TO ANY COACH HE PLAYED FOR[I ALSO PLAYED PRO BALL AND HAVE COACHED FOR MANY YEARS]I ALSO TAKE HIM TO A TOP
COACH.YES,MANY COACHES WHO GIVE LESSONS ARE JUST TAKING MONEY.HOWEVER,THE GOOD ONES ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY.THE COACH I AM REFERING TO WHO
WORKS WITH MY SON AND SOME OTHER TOP KIDS AND
PRO'S WILL NOT TAKE EVERY KID.IF HE FEELS THE PLAYER CAN'T BE HELPED OR CAN'T DEVELOPE INTO
A BIG TIME PLAYER,HE WON'T GIVE HIM A SECOND LESSON.
ALSO, AN EXAMPLE-SENT HIM A PLAYER TO WORK WITH
SINCE THE PLAYER WANTED TO GO.HE TOLD THE PLAYER THERE WAS NO NEED TO COME BACK OTHER THAN
FOR HIM TO HAVE BATTING PRACTICE SINCE THE KID
ALREADY HAD GREAT SKILLS.HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN
TAKING THE KIDS MONEY FOR NO REASON.I ALSO FEEL
THAT THE BEST INSTRUCTION IS BETTER THAN YEARS
AGO,CONTRARY TO TO ONE OF THE OTHER POSTERS.

THANK YOU

YoBo - Good thoughts, all. But please - turn the "CapsLock" on your keyboard off. It's hard to read a post that all in capital letters, and it's like the person is yelling.

D'oh!

I have been teaching and coaching my son since he was five. He has never played for anyone else, but will be playing HS ball this year for his first coach other than me. We are both excited that he is finally getting an opportunity to learn what someone else knows too. Although I played baseball when I was younger, I really didn't know how to teach others when I first started. When my son showed the skills and interest in the game, I sought out some area professionals to take him to. I listened to them with him and asked many questions, as well as doing a lot of research and attending many camps. I guess what I am getting at is that even though a parent may not know much about baseball, you can learn and no professional is ever going to spend as much time and energy with your kid as you are. Make yourself knowledgeable by becoming a student of the game - your son will reap the rewards.

http://www.highviewheat.com/index.asp

http://www.kristensfastpitchworld.com/index.asp

I have taught my son since he was a little guy, but now that he is in college, the teachers that he has are the opposing pitchers. They will let him know if he is doing things correctly or not. When you get about 200 at bats, the results will show one way or the other, and each year you need to improve all aspects of your game a little bit. If you can do that, they will continue to allow you to play the game.

I have been my the coach of my son with the advantage of also being a high school coach. Every time he swings the bat I know the time and sweat put into making that swing. But, there have been times that I have had to step back and let him learn from others who are knowledgeable about the game. I always keep the door open to him learning from ohters. They may have a way to reach where I could not. He is a senior this year and regardless of how his season goes I couldn't be more proud of his accomplishments.