Is It Really About The Girls ??

I have no dog in the fight with my 12U team, but I can honestly say that I love the game, and my motives is to see the kids reach their goals. Do I want to win ?? Well of course, but that's not why I coach the game !! Male egoes sometimes get in the way of our true purpose of the game. I have found that our kids perform better if you show them love and support,and not tell them that they suck or stink if they don't perform as you think they should. Remember girls are "MENTAL" , and it takes a lot of work to get their confidence back once they lose it !! Our goal this year is .500 ball for our first year team, we are at .333 so we are off to a great start.. Mike Candreas said If I give you 10 @ bats you should get at least 3 hits then I'm satisfied = .333.... Me too !!

Guru

 

TRUE WORDS

guru said..... I have found that our kids perform better if you show them love and support,and not tell them that they suck or stink if they don't perform as you think they should.

This is a lesson learned the hard way.... at 10 or 12 that spirit can be broken and not brought back for a long time!!!!!

 

Well

Guru has grown up and truly has the right attitude for coaching a group of young girls! He is so right girls at that age are sponges and with a little understanding and positive teaching, they can be amazing. Some of the Best times in my life were coaching my first couple years of Mint Hill rec ball but best was second and third year of the Blues! Wonderful kids that were the best "team", I ever coached! Now when I say team, they loved each other, they did everything together, pajama parties, trips to UNC, movies, pizza, and just hanging out. On the field, they were a machine and had great success because of that "team" approach.
Guru had a similar experience back in that age group and especially 12U!

 

If people could keep this impassioned post in mind at all times, they will have a better understanding of what is important.

Originally Posted by ecu78


After visiting this site for awhile, I saw this thread and just had to add my special memory. My son liked to play baseball but was never great at it. He wasn't talented enough to play high school ball but he played summer ball whether it was Little League or Babe Ruth, He never made any all star teams or such. He was just good enough to start. Most of all, he liked to play Babe Ruth ball with his friends. The boys just had a good time even though success was hard to find. During a Senior Babe Ruth game one night, my son was playing first and a fly ball was hit behind first into short right field. He turned and hustled to make an over the head catch that Willie Mays would have been proud of. I just stood there not believing what I just saw. I was in awe. Before I could make my way out of the dugout (I was on scorebook duty) to congratulate him, he had already returned the ball to the pitcher and was in stance for the next defensive play. With the next pitch, a ball was hit to second and he dropped a perfect throw at first. I told him when he came in how pretty the fly ball catch was and then asked him what happened on the throw from second. I can remember how fast his smile changed into a lowered head. To this day, I regret not making a bigger deal out of the great catch. And now I can't. My son was killed almost two years ago, months after making that catch. I responded to this thread so I could tell the dads out there to make sure you appreciate the memories you have and ones to come. Make sure your son has a smile on his face after the game. More importantly, make sure you do to. Always be positive and somehow forget the "bad". Believe me, winning or losing a baseball game just isn't that important anymore. I would give anything to see that smile again.

 

Wow I'm Taken Back !!

I would have never known that about you.....Words can never say how this would make a parent feel.......All I can say is HUMBLY WOW !!!

Guru

 

I would hope it would make them feel how precious little time they have with their kids.....You only get to do it with each once; enjoy it to the max!!!

ecu78 brought us a gift...and I have taken advantage of it, since it was first posted