by Jerry Brown

Created on: August 19, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Here's an opportunity to take a hard look at whether you are the obnoxious parent. Let's not come to any quick conclusions but let's be honest with ourselves. "Is Little League baseball about the kids or is it about the adults". The answer will differ from person to person but in my short answer to the question, I never have seen a little league game played by adults.

So let's start with a few questions that may help you access your Little League parenting style. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you may be impeding your child's baseball development and possibly their overall enjoyment of the game. If your goal is to "make sure the game is all about the kids", you may want to adjust your approach as it pertains to your child's involvement in Little League Baseball.

1) Have you ever found yourself discussing your expectations of your kid as you drive him/her to the game?
2) Have you ever verbally challenged your kid's coach on his approach to the game while you sit in the stands?
3) Have you ever screamed instructions to your kid during a game while you sit in the stands?
4) Have you ever felt embarrassed at the performance of your kid during a game?
5) Have you ever helped coach your kid's team but repeatedly found yourself in conflict with the coach's approach or fundamental program?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, take a deep breathe, open your mind and get ready to gather some information that may help keep your kid's interest in baseball growing.

Every kid develops at a different pace both physically and mentally. With that being the case, we must treat them as individuals who require team based instruction but they also need individual goals and motivational techniques. All coaching techniques are not good for all kids and all parents would help the development process by supporting your child as well as helping to create a positive environment for them to grow. Let's face it, they are trying to impress you, when they fall short of that they feel bad and their performance does not get better.

Here are a few tips to help your kid enjoy the game:

PATIENCE! First and foremost, be patient with your new player. Remember how young and small he/she really is.
PRACTICE a lot with your child before signing him up on an organized team. This gives him or her a sense that at least he/she has played the sport before.
PLAY baseball with your tyke as early as possible.
Show SENSITIVITY to your child's moods. Be aware that some days kids just aren't in the mood to play. Also teach your child that everyone has "on" and "off" days - even professional players.
INTEREST in baseball should come from your child - not you. Encouraging baseball is okay, but recognize and accept it if he/she would rather play another sport. Forcing a child to play a game he/she doesn't really care about will only result in frustration for both of you.

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