Tag: Parent Confession

Parent Confession: I Tore Down My Kid’s Coach

My son had a very solid 12-year-old season, mainly playing second base, a little bit of center field, and a handful of times on the mound. We didn’t win many games, however, and I felt it was because of his head coach’s managing style. In my view, Dylan’s manager shifted players around too much and […]

Parent Confession: I Shouted Down My Daughter’s Softball Chants

I am a baseball guy. I’m still involved in recreation leagues. As a kid, I played Little League Baseball. My wife played Little League Softball. Our daughter is a good ball player and could have easily played baseball. I pushed her to do so, but she decided on softball. My wife was pleased. I was […]

Parent Confession: I Made My Kid Cry, Not Happy Tears

It was early in the season. School was still in. My son had a big game versus the other top team in our league. I am a very competitive person. My son, who was eleven at the time, isn’t, and it’s something I’ve struggled with. I always wanted him to have a little more fire […]

Parent Confession: I Tried to Coach My Son Into a College Baseball Scholarship at Age 10

It was hard for me to see him strikeout or miss a ground ball. Through Tee Ball and Coach Pitch, I knew he was just learning, but once he got to Player Pitch and the Major Division, I thought that there was no way he was going to make it to the next level of […]

I Pushed My Son to Play Little League® Past His Enjoyment

My son was such a cute, little Tee Baller. He loved going out there and running around. I loved watching him and taking photos. It was just so adorable. Then, all the sudden, he was in the Minor Divisions. He still liked the game, but it became clear that he wasn’t going to be a […]

Parent Confession: My Outburst Embarrassed Everyone

I was all fired up as I sat in the third-base bleachers behind our dugout. I didn’t think the opposing manager was playing fair. My son’s manager would give signs to the catcher, who would then relay what pitch to throw. The opposing manager would then yell a comment to the hitter. When our manager […]

Parent Confessions: I Didn’t Understand the Seriousness of my Son’s Steroid Use

We are a baseball family. I played Little League Baseball® and so did both of my boys. Our oldest son went on the play collegiate baseball and was scouted by several Major League teams, and was Taylor’s idol. Like his older brother, Taylor played Little League and then played on his high school team.  He […]

Parent Confession: I Focused on Performance, Not Fun

Submitted By: Kim Ablon Whitney, Little League Volunteer (Newton, Mass.) It’s winter time now and snow is on the ground, but as I drive by our local Little League® field, I can envision the kids cheering from the dugouts and putting on their batting helmets to step up to the plate. This will be my […]

I Stressed Over My Son’s “Failure.” He Did Not.

I was well aware that baseball is considered a sport of failure. A player gets just three hits in 10 at-bats, and he is successful. During my son’s third year of Little League®, and second of Coach Pitch, he struck out time and time again, and hit for an average of .125. I know this […]

New Generation, Same Old Mistakes

I remember the day my son signed up my grandson, James, for Little League®. I was so excited. I brought out an old photo album, and showed James the pictures of his dad at practice and games. My wife took most of the photos back then because I was busy on the field helping to […]