younger players

In hindsight I would say first and foremost "Let'em have fun and grow up", play every sport they have interest in, don't be afraid your missing anything if he chooses to skateboard or go fishing instead of a baseball camp one weekend. We started extremely early and I used to think that every opportunity was the most important, however, as the next one came along, I realized the previous one wasn't as important as I thought. If he has the gift and the passion, it will surface in due time, and you always run the risk of burning it out. Play a little Little league and see how he enjoys it. Let him initiate the want to play travel or club ball.
Lastly, try to attend as many games as you can...time moves very fast once it starts.

wanna b,
Welcome to the HSBBW. It's great you found the website so early in your son's career. First I would caution you about setting your sights so high but at the same time I know you, like myself and most others, would like to do your part if indeed your son has the desire and the talent to progress through the levels of baseball. At some point you MUST remove the rose colored glasses and evaluate your son for what he truly is and act accordingly. That could be devoting more time and spending more money on baseball lessons from professional baseball players ..... or it could be helping him earn a merit badge on cooking in the boy scouts. Seriously, your job is to be a parent, not a baseball coach. But let's assume your son is a talented athlete and you want to help him achieve his goal of playing high school, college, or even professional baseball. Support him ... Don't push him. It's fine to challenge him by helping him set goals but be reasonable. One of the most important things you can do is help him keep his desire to get better. Do the mundane things like driving him to the park. Ask him for his input. Does he want to get better? Is he willing to sacrifice the video games for baseball? If so, locate a hitting instructor, pitching instructor and work out the details. Make it fun. STAY POSITIVE!!! Feed his desire to be the best. YOUR reward will come from the SATISFACTION HE gets from his accomplishments .... not yours.
I remember when my son walked up the steps at Plainsman Park in Auburn (your home state) and turned to his mother and me and said... "This is where I want to play ball"! Trust me, I enjoyed the joy on his face much more than the beautiful baseball complex of Auburn.

Best of luck to your son and War Eagle!
Fungo

I wish I was as smart as you to ask someone back then so PLEASE hear this from a Dad/coach who did it the wrong way. Keep them safe, help them have fun, keep your mouth shut about winning, and don't let them hurt each other's feelings when they make mistakes. The food chain flips 3 times before age 16 and then a lot depends on the timing of their growth. The best 10 yr old I saw hit homers and then didn't play at 13 or after. The best 14 yr old pitched and hit homers at JV and at 17 he sat the bench at varsity. Throw a lot for fun, hit off the tee a lot for fun, go to a pro teacher once or twice each spring to correct form, then get serious with group lessons at age 13.

When people tell him there no crying in baseball, tell him thats not true.

Thats a moms point of view.

Introduce him to a lot of different stuff and be sure to let HIM decide what he likes to do and what his dreams are. Embrace that those likes and dreams will likely change several times and not necessarily stop on your personal favorite. Then, provide the support and guidance to help reach those dreams but not too much and definitely not too soon. There's a huge difference between an 9 yr old saying "I want to play in the major leagues" and a 15 yr old saying it.
IMO, at this age, work on nothing more than the most basic fundamentals of throwing, catching, hitting and HAVING FUN! If he prefers hitting a foam ball over a baseball because it doesn't hurt, foam balls it is. If he wants more, he'll let you know.

Welcome Wanna B. Our son played at least 3 sports until High School, then he did two until he graduated. At 9, we knew our son had talent so we never worried about or thought about HS at that time. No matter what level, he was on good teams and played the majority of the time.

Like others said, keep it simple and let him do other things that interest him. Once they reach High School be prepared for time to speed up.

Enjoy the ride.

wanna b,
Our son has signed a NLI to play D1 next year.

We didn't let him play baseball until he was nine. He began playing travel ball after his 12 year old Little League season, and started getting some professional instruction then. I had worked on some basic things when he was 11.

He also played soc-cer, basketball, and football.

We started his younger brother at 7, and he no longer plays any sport competitively in spite of obvious athletic ability. I think that is a reflection of his personality, but maybe if we had waited until he was older.....

In a variety of small ways, help him come to appreciate that passion and ability, alone, are rarely enough; that it's dedication to continuous improvement ("hard work" in the vernacular) that is the link between passion/desire and success. It may turn out that baseball is not his passion; but, if he understands the general concept, he's got a great chance of applying himself and succeeding once he's determined his path. My older son is a musician, my younger one an athlete; and both have benefited mightily from the same basic approach to their chosen fields.

Once the younger one had decided to apply himself to baseball, I viewed myself as a resource. Early on, my principal mission was to try to see that he was coached by men who were great at teaching the game...and fine people off the field, as well. I also wanted to try to keep it fun for him to the extent that I could. Then, as he grew older and began to attract interest from various colleges, my mission shifted to one of supplying him with the information he needed to understand the recruiting process and pursue it if he saw fit. Fortunately, by that time, he was far enough along in his development as a player that he'd assumed responsibility for seeking out the best coaches and instructors and developed excellent work habits; so, my role there had attenuated appreciably.

As Fungo suggested earlier, you've come to the right place for advice. Welcome...and best of luck to your son!

For the kids to play in college, they have to keep playing through middle and high school. There are a lot of kids who drop out. Some don't have the talent, some take a hit and get scared, and some just don't want to listen to their parents any more.

There's not much you can do about the first two reasons, but you do control the last. Trying to coach your son from the stands during the game is a bad idea. I've seen kids turn around and yell at a parent "If you think it is so easy, you come do it".

After a game let him determine if he wants to talk about it. I found that sometimes I would want to analyze the games, and he just wanted a snow cone. So I learned to take my cues from him.

My son is in high school, so I don't have the same experience as some of the college/pro moms and dads on this forum, but this is what I've observed so far. Go watch a game of a local travel team, or a good high school team. You'll see the parents are much more laid back than they are at a typical Little League game. As a general rule (not always), the better the player, the more quiet the parent.

Just one parent's observations.

"As a general rule (not always), the better the player, the more quiet the parent."

Very true!

Great question. I have a freshmen pitcher in college, HS sophomore, and 8th grader. All like baseball, but in different ways. My advice would be to listen, support, learn as much as you can but know your limitations. My oldest has had a baseball passion since 4-5 years old. Recognize that passion, and help him when he asks you. Your son will help you guide him if you listen carefully. You'll know when it is time to seek higher levels of baseball (rec->travel->elite travel) and professional help because he will tell you.

Fast forward to today....In place of playing catch in the front yard, we're doing long toss and j-bands. It is still father/son bonding but in a different way. He is showing me how to use j-bands for my tennis game which always needs improvement. As others have said, enjoy it while you can. Every minute is golden.

quote:

What did some of you dads and players who have been recruited D1 or pro do with your sons as youngsters? Were you working with professionals?

Wannab,

Welcome to the greatest baseball resource for parents, anywhere. I can only echo what everyone is saying. Remember your place as a parent is to support and encourage. Mine was busy in so many fun things; s****r, gymnastics, basketball, Karate etc., that he didn't begin baseball until age 8. Travel at 12 and began really getting serious at around age 13. I was his only Coach until age 15 when we found a couple of great Coaches, Instructors to help him achieve HIS goals.

Early lessons should be on fun as everyone has said but don't be afraid to let him know early on that there are no short cuts. Great players became great players through dedication and hard work.

Enjoy it all and keep posting as you go through the trials and tribulations of raising a baseball player if that's the path the follows...

So the common thought is let them be kids and grow up. My son will only play baseball. He played basketball and did very well, and played s****r and did very well. Now I have asked him to play other sports and he will only play baseball. He is very good at baseball (he is only 7) What do you all think about Tiger Woods, or Serena and Venus Williams fathers approach? Those kids were groomed from very young and became the best at there given sports. I know my approach can be "over the top" which is why I decided to post. He has been going to a local baseball school two hours per week after school, and working with a hitting coach one day a week. I have asked him many times if he would like to stop and he says no. He goes to his lesson with a smile ready to play, he certainly does better with adults other than myself, although he always wants me to accompany him. Any thoughts or comments are very much appreciated.

I've seen way too many parents, mostly Dad's, destroy their son's chances to develop a passion and love for the game, and ultimately their chances to play at higher and higher levels, by ramming it down their throats. I think you have heard excellent advise here. You do need to give them an opportunity to play and learn the skills by exposing them to team play, instruction, and all that, but if it becomes something other than fun for them at 7,8, and 9 years old, it's not worth doing. By exposing them to the right envirements, they will learn that there is a connection between getting better and practice, and eventually, success and hard work. Passion and love for the game is not something that you can buy at the store and "make" your child wear. They will find it someplace in their hearts through love, encouragement, and just simply letting them play the game. Try to enjoy each step in the process, let them enjoy it also. Tomorrow will come soon enough.

quote:

Originally posted by wanna b:
I have asked him many times if he would like to stop and he says no. He goes to his lesson with a smile ready to play,

Wannab, if you read the book by Andre Agassi, it is possible to force feed a kid into greatness, but they have to have the talent/athleticism to begin with.

As long as you make it clear to him that this is for him, not you and he can take a breather if needed, no harm will come.

Well I agree with all posts and, from the numerous posts, one can tell that its not a simple subject. In addition to the above I'd suggest adding the following:

1. Teach them to take care of their equipment and have it ready to go for the next practice.

2. Teach them to play while wearing a cup.

3. Teach them to get to practice on time and that means by you getting them to practice on time.

4. Teach them to cheer in a positive fashion.

5. Reward effort and personal courage just as much as actual production. A good hack is as good as a good hit.

6. Expose them to all positions while also explaining to them that positions are ultimately earned and not given. If they want to play SS in the big games they'll need to work harder on their skills at that position than the next player.

7. Keep them in a "league environment" where they play with their neighborhood friends even if their developed skill level and early growth makes them eligible for a competitive travel team.

8. Remember at 7 - 10 its largely about the snacks following the game. Win or lose they have serious fun and quickly move on to other activities and focus as soon as the last out is made.

Players improve their game by working at it in the off season. When your son gets to about 11-12 years old, if he's still playing and shows talent and a desire to play the game find him a good place to workout consistently over the winter. Organized and with good coaches. If you're and ex player maybe you can do it at home.

The game and the workouts have to be fun at this young age. Somewhere he wants to go, not somewhere you have to drag him to. Somewhere he can laugh and cut up with friends while still working on his swing, arm and fielding. Also, the coaches while getting their lessons across, should be making it fun. There is plenty of time once he gets to high school for the more serious stuff.

I am gald that you posted this question. I also have a young player -- he's 8.

I try to pick my spots with instruction. If he's not ready to learn, we're going to end up butting heads. There's nothing wrong with playing catch just for fun. That's good father/son time.

However, I always try keep an eye out for that window of opportunity for hen he's ready to try to get better as a player. That's when I focus on fundamentals. When he's receptive, we (yes, we) make a lot of improvement and he gets better a lot faster than when I force it on him.

Wanna B,
you asked for advice and received it from many posters......yet when it doesnt match up with your "over the top" approach, you ask for more....ok,....understood...here is mine...

As an "OLD-TIMER" I have seen many parents come and go over the years.....In the reality of baseball, all players stop playing...and its hard to see some posters saying they insist that "the bopper" hit 100 balls a day and attend this select camp or that travel team, only to see them drift away when "the bopper" decides that girls, or music or football is his true passion.......

There is a fine line between supporting and pressuring....I was lucky that my son at 12 told me my pressuring "wasnt helping".........

My last advice comes under the heading of measuring what success is.....If your son never plays another inning of baseball beyond HS and has enjoyed it.. that is success....

If only making it to Pro ball or D1 is the measure of success then the vast majority of parents will be disapointed....

For most players, HS will be the last organized baseball they will ever play........a much smaller group will go on and play college ball and and even smaller group will have a go at professional baseball, a even smaller group will play Major League baseball....and on and on to the steps of Cooperstown....

There are levels of success along the way...and 7 years old is way too soon to be worrying about it....

also please decide who it really is that wants to be "wanna be"....

quote:

Originally posted by wanna b:
So the common thought is let them be kids and grow up. My son will only play baseball. He played basketball and did very well, and played s****r and did very well. Now I have asked him to play other sports and he will only play baseball. He is very good at baseball (he is only 7) What do you all think about Tiger Woods, or Serena and Venus Williams fathers approach? Those kids were groomed from very young and became the best at there given sports. I know my approach can be "over the top" which is why I decided to post. He has been going to a local baseball school two hours per week after school, and working with a hitting coach one day a week. I have asked him many times if he would like to stop and he says no. He goes to his lesson with a smile ready to play, he certainly does better with adults other than myself, although he always wants me to accompany him. Any thoughts or comments are very much appreciated.

I responded below. It sounds like you have a lot of opportunities to introduce the game since he's so into it.

Since our sons are similar ages, maybe this will help. I pick a handful of skills (3 to 5) that I want to work on with him.

For example, last winter we focused on hitting and making a good pivot (pivot for power).
This year, loading is getting more attention at the plate.

In the field, I am focusing on throwing. Elbow above the shoulder, getting (basic) footwork down for a power step.

Nothing too big or complicated. Just introduce a skill, build on it, and hopefully master it over time. Then introduce another skill, build on it, and hopefully master it over time. Repeat if he's still interested.

I would like to hear what the other parents who have the benefit of hindsight have to say as well.

I hope this helps.

Great post piaa_ump

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
Great post piaa_ump

I agree, 100%.
OP is looking for our opinion, not quite sure it will change his game plan.
Lessons at 7 with professionals, doesn't make a venus, tiger, etc. you got that all wrong.

First of all, why does a 7 year old have to be involved in 3 sports? Why do you have to keep asking him if he wants to stop? HE WILL LET YOU KNOW when he does, he will let you know when he wants to do other things. Let him go out and have fun, whatever that means to him, let him do it, you will find out as he grows up whether what you decided to do was worthwhile or not. Spend as much as you want, but never think that will mean you will someday get back the return you are expecting.

You asked a question so here is my answer. It has taken 18 years from 7 to get to a point that may mean that playing on the ML field becomes a reality. At 7 he was still playing t ball. You say he is good, at 7, he should be with lessons, but that won't mean at 17,18 he will be better than anyone else.

BTW, never had a pro lesson in his life.

Welcome to the HSBBW,

Wanna b,
The response from piaa_ump hit the nail on the head. It's way, way, way too early to be worrying about a 7 year old playing D1 or pro baseball. Obviously someone has told you that you're "over the top" for you to say that. Tiger, Venus and Serena are the exceptions, not the rule. For every father like theirs, there have been thousands who have ruined the game for a kid who could have otherwise enjoyed it. We've all seen it.

Want to prepare him for the future? Teach him the importance of a good education. Teach him good morals. Let him enjoy the game. And don't do every baseball related thing (camp, instruction, etc) that's out there...keep him hungry for more.

But, alas, there's probably not anything that I can say that will change your direction. I sincerely wish you and your son the best. Baseball is a wonderful sport that teaches some of life's most important lessons.

I would add to all these great posts the line from Forrest Gump " Life's like a box of chocolates you never know what your gonna get ". Encourage passion at a young age, patience thru puberty ( a whole thread in itself ) and discipline in highschool. After that remember it's their journey not ours, were along for the ride and it's the best chair in town.

This is a great topic and would be even better without using a particular example.

FWIW, IMO, Force feeding will never work. However Wanna b said his son really enjoys what he is doing.

While 7 years old is way too young to determine the future, there's nothing wrong with learning how to play correctly. A bigger problem is having success doing things wrong over and over and forming bad habits that might be difficult to break.

Learning how to hit, field, throw, run, etc. at a young age can be a big advantage later on. Of course, just because someone is teaching these things doesn't mean they are teaching things the right way. A good instructor would make the lessons fun for a young kid. A good mentor would teach important things that relate to life. Taking hitting lessons at 7 isn't going to do any harm. However forcing it on a kid isn't likely to work IMO.

Developing the right attitude is even more important than developing baseball skills. IMO, that development starts at a very young age for almost everyone. For some young kids, being the best at a very young age has been a thorn in the side.

So I think it is great to teach young kids proper baseball technique. It's even more important to teach them how to act (younger the better). How they act will not only help them in baseball, but it will also help them in all walks of life.

At 7 years old or at 70 years old sooner or later everyone will understand there are much more important things in life than baseball. The sooner a player realizes that, the less negative pressure he will face in baseball. The game itself provides lots of pressure, no reason to add a lot more.

Best of luck

quote:

At 7 years old or at 70 years old sooner or later everyone will understand there are much more important things in life than baseball. The sooner a player realizes that, the less negative pressure he will face in baseball. The game itself provides lots of pressure, no reason to add a lot more.

One of the best statements of the day.

I agree!

You are undoubtedly the most important person in your sons life right now and the LAST thing he wants to do is disappoint you. Make sure he is following that schedule with a genuine smile and for the right reason, because he loves it.
Also, keep in mind, being the best player on the field at 7,8,9, years old offers great pride for the Dad, but really has nothing to do with being the best at 16, 17, 18 years old when it really counts.

Let me twist up the discussion...
When my son said he wanted to give up baseball at age 9 and I "pressured" him into continuing on, did I go agains the golden rule and even my own advice?

When my son said he wanted to get a skateboard and I said NO ... did I do wrong?

When I did "things" to further his baseball career that most feel he "should" have done for himself, did I mess up?

Piaa_ump says: "There is a fine line between supporting and pressuring." So true. I'll add that the line varies between EVERY parent/player. The player's and parent's personalities come into play. So what worked for my son may not work for your son.

Very few times did I allow my son to do as he pleased if I though it wasn't in his best interest. Parents have one thing that kids don't .... Life experiences. Use your experience to guide and direct them .... for THEIR benefit!

Fungo

quote:

Also, keep in mind, being the best player on the field at 7,8,9, years old offers great pride for the Dad, but really has nothing to do with being the best at 16, 17, 18 years old when it really counts.

True! And the opposite is true - a kid who isn't a Little League all star may come into his own later.

quote:

Originally posted by Fungo:
Piaa_ump says: "There is a fine line between supporting and pressuring." So true. I'll add that the line varies between EVERY parent/player. The player's and parent's personalities come into play. So what worked for my son may not work for your son.
Fungo

Fungo is so correct...see my error was that at the 11-12 yr old level I was exerting too much pressure on my son...and he was performing at a high level...but I was fortunate to have a son who felt he could tell me...."that my pressuring was not helping".....

Like fungo, I continued to support my son and his team/leagues through other means and guided his path on issues that were more off the field than on...

It was the best decision I ever made.....Look I am a much better umpire than I was a coach and laughingly I have described my playing career as the "worst back-up catcher" on all my teams.....so I had reached the level where I could no longer contstructivly give my son playing advice... It was time to turn that over to higher qualified coaches and instructors.....

Im glad I dodged that bullet from being "that dad"....the one that everyone moans when he shows up, .....the one who everyone avoids and the one the kids cringe when they hear his criticism from the stands....and honestly the dad who drives his kid away from the sport....

The whole thing took me back to when I was a kid and we had an outstanding QB on my youth team, his dad was "that dad"....and we all would cringe when his dad would scream at him from the stands....argue with the coaches on why we werent throwing the ball enough...etc....

Just the advice from someone who was guilty....but smart enough to listen to a 12 year old..

The thing about only playing and working on baseball year round at an early age is I think you increase the odds of them just getting tired of it. My two (one a sr. played juco and now is a sr. walkon at a DI, and the younger is a 2012 that is committed to a DI)played football, basketball, and baseball through middle school. They continued with football and baseball after that. I think being involved in the other sports gave them a "break" from baseball, so that when it came time to work on baseball they were hungry for it, and it wasn't just the same thing they had been doing all along. As they got into high school and it became obvious they were better in baseball, they still played football, but would work in some hitting on weekends, and play a fall game here and there. Then when football was over they went headlong into baseball until time for football. I think if I had forced baseball only and had regular scheduled lessons from age 7, that somewhere around 9th or 10th grade they would have said "i'm just tired of this."

When my son was 4 he was given a bat and ball by his uncle and from the first pitch was hitting hard line drives across the living room until we had to take the game outside.

So he started T-Ball at 4 that spring and really never looked back. I will say that it was all about having fun. I never really played any organized sports and was more of a Long Haired Frisbee beach bum (I was very good on the beach and would always draw a crowd doing body rolls and under the leg and a catch behind the back). Anyway, my son took to ball sports so I played with him.

We encouraged him to climb trees and build forts, when you think about the muscle groups involved in climbing trees all day and carrying wood as you climb and pounding hundreds of nails you can begin to see that some core strength will result.

He loved baseball, and I would give him a baseball to sleep with at night...

We really stayed a one sport family year round his whole life.

When he was 10 and had been consistently hitting home runs I decided to take him to a hitting instructor about 100 miles away once a week, he continued to improve and would ask me to soft toss for him. He asked me if I thought he could be a professional baseball player...what did I know? At 10 you can be whatever you want, right?

During middle school he played on the basketball team and the s****r team, pretty good at basketball, but s****r not so much...

By the time he got to High School he had played baseball year round every year since he was 4 and when he was 11 he played Travel Ball as well as Little league in the Spring, All Stars in the Summer and Fall Little League. One year he was on 3 teams at the same time. Anything to get another at bat. Bear in mind this was not orchestrated by me, I supported him, but it was he who wanted the at bats.

When High School came he was playing Travel Ball, still receiving weekly instruction and playing HS ball in season. By this time the whole family had caught hold of the dream...we had all done a lot of baseball together.

On occasion I would need to encourage him to call his instructor and remind him that he had a workout scheduled, which precluded him from participating in some of the same events that his peers engaged in.

He is 3 years into college now and has yet to sit more than an inning here or there his entire career.

I believe the best thing we ever did for him was to encourage him to be a boy and climb trees and build forts. When he was ready for more I provided it, but it was and is HIS love for the game that has always driven the agenda. I am a dad a fan and a supporter who loves to watch baseball now and can barely remember how to spin a Frisbee on my finger, and I am much too out of shape now to ever get it around my back again, set it up with an air brush and roll it across my back catching it between my legs. I could never get him to throw a Frisbee and so my dream died and his began.

I agree with FUNGO. As our children all have distinct personalities, your approach to your son might be totally different than ours. I hope our story might be of help though.

Our son is still young-- a sophomore in HS-- but as we are talking 7-9 year olds, I would like to share our experience. In a nutshell, older son had very serious health issues and our baseball son did not even pick up a baseball until he was 7. We just didn't have the time. Son was physical and had fun, but really just did his thing. Anyway, when he came out for t-ball at 7, many of his friends were playing coach pitch. Ours picked grass in the outfield and ran circles. My husband couldn't get over how serious some parents were. One parent suggested our son wasn't MATURE enough for baseball. Fast forward the next year. Son comes out and he's totally in to it. He quickly (probably in a day) catches up to those who were "ahead" of him. Flash a year later, dads are not happy with my husband when all stars comes around and they want him to go up to 10's so he can pitch and possibly win state. My husband insists he is too young and does not want him taking a spot from a ten year old. There is an all stars for 9's that ends at district, and he thinks that is more appropriate for son because it only involves two weeks of summer and no travel. We held our guns, but were not popular. Our son has always had fun playing ball. He works hard and loves the challenge. The friendships he has cultivated along the way are important to him. I think he was 12-13 when he knew he wanted to take baseball as far as he could. I would just say don't get too serious at 7. He may or may not be playing at 17 or even 27, but it really won't have anything to do with what he did at 7. (IMO)

Good luck!

Take the advice you've been given to heart, I especially like the advice given by piaa_ump because it has more to do with good parenting than guiding your young son to the major leagues. If you could make one wish come true for your son, would it really be making him a professional baseball player or a D1 recruit?

I suspect the parents of DI recruits and professional players really hope that they look back on their childhood and teen years with great memories and affection and not as a "grind". Don't try to be more than just a parent and best friend. Don't make a project out of him, rather sit back and watch the sun rise and set and enjoy the view.

Baseball can certainly be a major part of this and teaches valuable life lessons along the way. Much more valuable than simply throwing the ball at 90+ mph or hitting home runs or getting one's picture on the front page of the local newspaper for signing at a prominent DI college.

The caution I find common in many of these posts is....be careful you don't over commit and let your son settle for something less than a rich, fulfilled, vigorous sampling of life itself. Hopefully that life will include you for a long time.

quote:

Originally posted by PA Dino:
Take the advice you've been given to heart, I especially like the advice given by piaa_ump because it has more to do with good parenting than guiding your young son to the major leagues. If you could make one wish come true for your son, would it really be making him a professional baseball player or a D1 recruit?

I suspect the parents of DI recruits and professional players really hope that they look back on their childhood and teen years with great memories and affection and not as a "grind". Don't try to be more than just a parent and best friend. Don't make a project out of him, rather sit back and watch the sun rise and set and enjoy the view.

Baseball can certainly be a major part of this and teaches valuable life lessons along the way. Much more valuable than simply throwing the ball at 90+ mph or hitting home runs or getting one's picture on the front page of the local newspaper for signing at a prominent DI college.

The caution I find common in many of these posts is....be careful you don't over commit and let your son settle for something less than a rich, fulfilled, vigorous sampling of life itself. Hopefully that life will include you for a long time.

Awesome.

After HS it becomes such a grind I am happy to look back that it wasn't a grind for him in HS, and that he had other interests even though baseball was his passion.

As a parent with a young player it's very hard to actually realize what lies ahead. While some think that it's good to start them on the path early, I am not sure this is the type of sport you can do that with, so much does depend on other factors to be successful. Most important, expose them to the game whether it be through playing or watching others play.

Wishes for your sons should be about being happy productive adults, with or without baseball and not loving your son for what he does but for who he is.

Be involved with your own interests as well, because the day it ends, the more involved you are the harder it will be for you, not him.

Nothing matters before puberty. So relax.

Also, a story. A few months ago, I asked my youngest (in HS now) if he remembered a PeeWee tourney we went to. He said he doesn't remember much at all about T-Ball or PeeWee. So, just make good memories for him.

wannab- The thread I have pasted below is a good one. If the link does not work, go to "General Items Forum" and find the topic "The Recruitment Journey" posted by Stanwood around early December 2010.

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...6002781/m/5347096495

Good advice on this site and I have also learned some good stuff from the ASMI site.

quote:

Originally posted by wanna b:
what advice from experienced dads and players do you have for youngsters 7,8,9 year olds?

What did some of you dads and players who have been recruited D1 or pro do with your sons as youngsters? Were you working with professionals?

Thanks for any advice

At seven, eight and nine it was all about fun. At these ages my daughter who played college softball never wanted to practice away from the team. My son's favorite toy at eighteen months old was his Little Tikes batting tee and Little Tikes shopping cart full of whiffle balls and dead tennis balls. Being five years younger he was always around his sister's softball practices (I coached). At any age he loved to practice. He'll play college ball as soon as coaches can determine his surgery was successful.

Neither of my kids had a paid professional lesson until they were in high school. I'll caveat this with I played college ball and was asked several times to instruct at facilities. By high school they needed to hear what I was saying from someone else. I was able to coach my daughter through 18U showcase ball. I had to stop coaching my son when he was sixteen.

As you can see, two kids, two different avenues. They have two distinctly different personalities. They're not equally gifted athletically and intelligently. The funny thing is the easy going one became difficult for me to coach. The intense one was always coachable.

In their preteen years, never suck the fun out of it. At the least you want to develop a baseball fan. Once they're teens if they have long term goals in the game they have to understand there's work and commitment involved.