Contents

Introduction
1. Before Your Child Takes the Field
2. Teaching the Basics
3. Enjoying the Season
4. Dealing with Common Problems
Conclusion

Introduction

Millions of children participate in organized baseball and softball programs around the country every year. It’s an exciting world of colorful uniforms, post-game ice cream treats, fruit punch mustaches, and plenty of smiling faces. For many families, spending time at their local ball fields has become as much a part of summer rituals as cookouts, vacations, and days at the beach. And in warm-weather climates, where baseball and softball are played all year long, these sports take on an even larger presence.

No matter where one lives, organized youth programs have the potential to provide a wonderful (although sometimes chaotic) experience for the entire family. Moms and dads who don’t volunteer as coaches can always be depended on as die-hard fans, while siblings tag along to root for their brothers or sisters. Daily schedules revolve around games and practices--meals are often devoured on the run, and many a family vacation has been put on hold for those can’t-be-missed playoff games. But best of all, through their participation, youngsters create scrapbooks full of memories that they will cherish for a lifetime.

Chances are you played on an organized ball team yourself as a kid. Think about that involvement and consider the important role it played in your own growth and development--both physically and socially. If your experience was typical, it served as the foundation for a number of key life lessons, such as always trying to do your best, winning and losing with dignity, being a good sport, and abiding by the rules. You can probably still recall the crack of the bat when you delivered a hit, and how great it felt to get your uniform dirty while sliding safely into second base. It was also a time of posing for team photos, breaking in new gloves, riding to games with friends, and chanting the ever-popular mantra: "Hey, batter batter...swing."

Now it’s your child’s turn to experience the journey--and you’ve got a front row seat for the ride! To a great extent, you can help ensure that the course is smooth and the trip enjoyable; however, don’t expect your job to be without its challenges. Being a youth sports parent means much more than simply arranging car pools, keeping ice-cold water bottles on hand, and making sure your child gets to practice on time. You have to be able to recognize and negotiate around potential obstacles that can drain away all the fun and excitement. And it doesn’t matter if you have a five-year-old who is playing T-ball for the first time, or a fourteen-year-old who has been playing for years, be prepared to come face to face with some challenges. The good news? Help is here.

A Parent’s Guide to Baseball and Softball extends a hand in helping you maximize your child’s sports experience, while dealing responsibly and effectively with a variety of potential problems that commonly occur during this time. Part of a series developed by the National Alliance For Youth Sports (NAYS)--America’s leading advocate for positive and safe sports for children--this book offers lots of helpful tips and useful advice to help ensure a safe and fun-filled season for your child, while giving you a greater appreciation and understanding of your own role and responsibilities.

You’ll learn the importance of helping your child set and meet goals for the season, gain an understanding of how to talk to the coach, and become aware of the do’s and don’ts when resolving conflicts that may arise during the course of the season. You’ll gain greater insight into your responsibilities on game days, including how to handle a nervous child before the game, ways to provide positive feedback during the game, and what to say after those games that don’t work out quite like everyone had hoped. You’ll also learn how to handle a number of other issues that can derail your youngster’s enjoyment--everything from dealing with disappointment over not playing a desired position to managing personality conflicts with coaches or teammates. Yours is a significant role in helping your son or daughter get the most fun and meaning from this sports experience as possible. Always keep in mind that children are going to remember this time forever. A Parent’s Guide to Baseball and Softball is an invaluable resource to help ensure that their memories will be happy ones.

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