__Tips_For_Softball_Parents__ 

From an 'experienced' softball player parent: 

Work with your child. There really is little more satisfying than going out at least a few evenings a week and playing ball with
your kids. This gives quality time, and helps your child improve her skills (and, trust me, the better your child can play, the more she
will enjoy the softball experience!). Some day, your child will look back on the summer evenings spent playing catch with mom and
dad. 

Get involved in your local League. Softball is run on a volunteer basis, and they can use all the help they can get. Anything you
can do to pitch in will make the League run more smoothly, and will help all the kids, from helping out at tryouts, to scorekeeping or
field preparation, to umpiring. If your child sees that this league is important to you, she will learn that it is important to the kids, too.

Different coaches have different philosophies. Some believe in having players play all positions, some want players to become
good at one. Some coaches place more emphasis on winning (and I can tell you, from experience, that players have more fun
when they are winning). It is IMPORTANT to remember that your child's coach is not being paid, he is working for the love of the
game and the kids. Let him be the coach! Don't argue and criticize if you think your child is being treated unfairly (as
parents, it is natural to be very protective, but most coaches aren't discriminating). If you think there is a problem, discuss it with
the coach AWAY from the ball field; chances are that you will see his point of view. The important thing is not to make an issue in
front of the players; along with softball, they are learning to work as a team and to respect authority and experience. Work to not
ruin this teaching opportunity. 

For heaven's sake, show up for the games AND the practices. In today's busy world it is sometimes hard to juggle
schedules, but this is your child! I cannot begin to tell stories of kids I've seen who never tried to excel at softball, and invariably
these kids were dropped off at practices and picked up afterwards, without the parent(s) ever watching a single practice. It's only
a couple of times a week, a couple of months out of the year! The most irritating are the parents who don't ever watch practice
(and, therefore, never understand the coaches philosophy), but will question (yell!) at a coaches decision during the game. Most
people wouldn't dare to not show up for work and still tell the boss what's wrong with the company, but they will turn around and
do just that with their child's' coach. 

Respect the rules! This is what the kids should be learning. If you don't agree with an umpires call, keep it to yourself. If there is
a team rule that bothers you, well, its their team...not yours. If you think there is a serious problem, take it up with the coach or a
League official on your own time, not your child's. Rule of thumb: during practice or games, don't speak unless spoken to (except,
of course, to cheer on ALL the kids). 

Don't create pressure. Just about every parent dreams of their daughter becoming a star, but they are only children. Don't
expect more than they can deliver. Give positive encouragement, and be there when they need you. Besides, often a child in early
years will lack certain skills, and blossom later on. Don't fight nature, or the kids. 

Ice Cream!!! No one likes to lose, but the nature of a team sport is that one team will always lose. Teach your child that he/she
didn't lose, the team lost. And they lost to a team that just happened to play better that day. There is always next time, and the
important thing is to learn from the defeats. Its okay to analyze why someone lost, and how they can do better next time. It's never
okay to place blame! 

Have Fun!!!!! Playing softball should be a positive experience for everyone: kids, coaches, support staff, and parents. Winning is
nice, but losing is inevitable. Being a star is fun, but being a bench player is just as important. Take the opportunity to enjoy your
child's' childhood, and to teach some important life lessons!! 

(This suggestion is from a Mom.) Although softball is considered a 'non-contact' sport, there are occasions when players
collide, or non-contact injuries occur. We are all concerned about our children's safety, but if your child suffers an injury, remember
kids are able to sustain a lot more than adults; and, coaches are trained in dealing with injuries. Let the coach handle the
situation...he doesn't need a panicked parent to deal with. 

I can't stress this enough: VOLUNTEER...they need you. One of the biggest irritants I see is those who will not give their
time, but are quick to criticize. If you can't be part of the solution, don't be part of the problem. If you think that something needs to
be changed, get involved so that you can change it. 

(This suggestions is from a manager.) One of the most frustrating things for a manager is to have a parent come up after the
season and say, "great season, but you kept doing something that bothered me..." A manager/coach cannot change problems if
they don't know the problems exist. Most managers/coaches welcome input. 

This page originally found at: www.net-master.net/~sports/keiths.htm. 
(URL did not work when this page prepared.)