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BASEBALL OFFSEASON I can feel the eye-rolling from other parents when I make my boys (10 & 7 years old) put baseball down -entirely- for the offseason. Many of their teammates continue personal lessons and participate in optional practices straight into the spring. I don't begrudge those who have their kids train all winter. If that works for them, have at it. But I believe (because I've seen it first hand) that those kids will hit a wall at some point in the spring/summer season. Their energy levels will drop, they'll lose interest and generally feel burned out. And no one knows what impact it may have down the road with repetitive-use injuries and the desire to keep playing in high school and beyond. It's easy to say "it's just an hour practice' and much harder to stay disciplined and wait until the new season starts. But I believe the benefits are worth it. Physically - my boys stop the repetitive throwing and swinging motions and transition to basketball, football, and speed & agility workouts. Mentally - it sets aside the months-long grinding and lets them play just for their enjoyment. They still practice and take private lessons in these other sports but since they're not their #1's, it's less taxing mentally. Here we are in mid-December and I find myself having to say no again, which is difficult. But I can hold on for another 6 short weeks until the baseball offseason officially ends, with 2 eager and refreshed ballplayers chomping at the bit to get back at it.
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Play Ball Youth Sports
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- 12/16/2024 @ 12:50 pm
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SELFISHNESS IN YOUTH BASKETBALL I've been thinking a lot about selfishness in youth basketball lately. I see it watching college/pro sports and have been talking about it with the kids I coach at the youth level. Selfishness is pretty easy to recognize on the court. Head-down dribbling...and more dribbling until the 1-on-1 results in a crazy shot and turnover. Or not defending so once a shot goes up you can run the court for a cherry-picked bucket. My older kids are just 10 years old. They're starting to develop some ball handling skills and like the feeling of scoring in front of their friends and family. I get that - they're starting to feel themselves a bit and I do want to nurture that confidence. But too often it becomes one pass and the other four players standing around watching. I want my kids to understand that that type of play is selfish, not just ineffective. I'm starting to talk about that a lot in practice. It's not about who scores the most points but how the team plays as a unit. I'm placing extra emphasis on - and praising! - the extra pass for a better shot, the screen to get a teammate open, a hard cut to open the floor for a teammate, crashing the boards for rebounds, etc. I guess selfishness in youth basketball is to be expected as the kids learn. But I like the idea of framing it around the concept of selfishness vs. selflessness. It's definitely a new concept for many of them but I know it will make them better players.
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Play Ball Youth Sports
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- 12/14/2024 @ 6:01 am
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Play Ball Youth Sports