Parent Corner
PARENTS: Parents should ensure that their daughters are on time for practices and games, unless there is a valid excuse. Parents should attend all games if possible, and exhibit good sportsmanship. Parents who exhibit flagrant, unsportsmanlike conduct toward board members, umpires, coaches, players, or other parents will be required to stay away from games.
Player Development:
Parents can play a critical role in the development of a young softball player. Skills will progress as a player receives instruction and experience at practices and games. However, reinforcing the skills at home can be both a fun and rewarding experience for both the parents and players. Playing catch, fielding ground balls, fielding fly balls, and visits to the batting cage are all excellent ways to expedite player development. See the "Coaches' Corner" section of this web site to access fundamentals and drills.
Professional instruction is also an excellent way to supplement what the players are learning at practice. Professional instruction is particularly important to develop young windmill pitchers. Windmill pitchers require proper instruction and a considerable amount of practice to become proficient. It is not too young to begin instruction in the first or second grade.
10 Tips for Being a Great Softball Parent
By Stacie Mahoe
As a softball parent, you only want the best for your daughter. So what can you do to help your daughter become the best she can be on the field?
Here are 10 Tips to Help You Be a Great Softball Parent!
- Focus on reinforcing your daughter’s correct technique, mechanics, and good performance.
- Don’t dwell on your daughter’s mistakes.
- Value your daughter’s “intangible strengths” – determination, mental toughness, positive attitude, confidence, commitment, etc.
- Be a good example. Your children learn from you. Model the behavior and attitude you want your children to develop.
- Show your daughter you see her progress and are proud of her for the effort and improvement she is making.
- Allow and provide for taking a break – no school, no sports, just time to relax and enjoy family and friends.
- Don’t specialize too early in sport or in position.
- Encourage the same commitment and passion toward school as you do toward softball.
- Remember that there is no short cut to success. Expensive equipment it and of itself won’t solve all problems, it still requires dedication, skill, and technique for maximum success.
- Provide your daughter with the ultimate reward: your time, your attention, your approval, and the chance to hang out with you doing and sharing something she loves.