5 Tips for Parents to be the Best Backyard Coaches Possible
While the regular season may have an end date, you can still inspire your children to enjoy the benefits of the game right at home in your backyard.
Not only is this a fun experience for the whole family, but playing in the backyard provides numerous benefits, from physical exercise and improved coordination, to bonding time with loved ones and the opportunity for children to learn valuable life lessons.
Check out some of these important tips for parents to continue to embrace the role of backyard coach to help their children thrive on and off the field all year long.
1. Stay positive and have fun
While nobody wants the Little League season to end, focus on making backyard activities fun and always keep a positive attitude. While teaching skills, remember that praise is powerful. When your child tries a new skill or does something correctly, celebrate the win, even if it’s small. Praise is more effective than criticism, plus it keeps the activity focused on fun.
2. Be specific with feedback
As the Positive Coaching Alliance recommends, try to be specific with your praise when taking on the role of backyard coach rather than the standard “good job.” If you’re practicing batting, instead of saying “nice hit” be specific with feedback by saying something like “way to keep your eye on the ball.” When working on catching pop flies, rather than saying “great catch,” you can say, “great hustle and nice job calling the ball.”
3. Emulate the dugout experience
So much of what children learn from and enjoy about sports is the “dugout experience” with their team. In between drills, take a moment to re-create this bonding moment by pausing for a dugout snack. Keep that fun going by teaching your little one your favorite sideline cheers or developing a secret handshake that they can pass along to their teammates in the future!
4. Go beyond the game
Playing ball is full of opportunities to teach life lessons, so make sure to relate what your child is learning in the backyard to skills they can use throughout life. This includes courage to try something new, perseverance to keep trying, the strength to deal with success and failures, listening and taking direction, exhibiting good sportsmanship, and so much more.
5. Express admiration and joy
When kids see you having fun and enjoying yourself, they’re more likely to do so themselves. Laugh, play together, share stories, and bond over the love of the game. Whether it’s with a youngster taking her first swing off a tee or a seasoned ball player practicing their drills in hopes of keeping skills sharp, this is quality time spent together.
You can always find a way to celebrate the bond that sports provide families each season and help develop those lifelong lessons that children learn during their Little League experience — no matter if it’s in a huge stadium or on the grass out back. For further ideas on how to be the best backyard coach possible, check out the free resources from the Positive Coaching Alliance at positivecoach.org.