Defining Success for a Young Ballplayer
“I just want my player to have fun and play sports.” That statement fades fast once a kid enters the vortex. Here's the scoreboard that actually holds up.
Baseball is tricky and involves a lot of failure. There are many highs and lows, and so many opportunities to build character. Defining what success looks like as a family gets more into baseball will help everyone maintain a true north. These guiding principles should be touched on early, during a young ballplayer's beginning foundations in the game.
The Scoreboard Parents Default To
Hits more homers than anyone on the team
Never strikes out
Leads the team in innings pitched and strikeouts
Doesn't sit the bench
The Scoreboard That Actually Matters
- Always picks up their teammates, and makes it a point to stand up and be at the fence waiting when they enter the dugout
- Understands that the bench is one of the positions on the field — doesn't love it, but knows they have a job to do when they're on it
- Maintains their calm when they strike out, even on a bad call by the umpire, and talks to teammates calmly instead of sulking
- Always runs hard to their position
- Plays hard every game
- Hustles to their position every inning
- Owns their mistakes and doesn't make them multiple times, over and over
- Is self-motivated
Where This Shows Up in Practice
These same guiding principles are what the mantras and accountability program are built to reinforce.