Is your child really committed?
Here are 5 ways to tell:
They’re prepared for practice. They’re at practice early, ready to work, with all their equipment in hand.
They ask questions and are a true student of the game. They pay attention in practice, listen to the coach’s explanation of why they do certain drills, and watch baseball on tv or attend live games to see how the things they’re learning get put into practice.
They maintain a positive attitude. This means even when games are not going the way they hoped, or when a coach has an extra long practice to drive home a certain concept.
They’re open to feedback. This is critical if they ever hope to play past the high school level. They have to be open to constructive criticism from coaches and adaptable to new ways of doing things if they’re going to have longevity in this sport.
And last but not least, they work and get their reps in outside of organized practice time. Practice is designed for the team, but you need to do your tee work, strength training, and position specific drills on your own time in order to continue to grow and excel. Bonus points if they do these things without your prodding them to do so…
You can encourage all of these attributes by supporting your child in their desire to become a better athlete and teammate. Remember - they take their lead from you.