We all want our little ones to succeed, and it’s no different when it comes to organized sports. If your son or daughter loves heading out onto the field and taking part in America’s favorite pastime, you know how stressful it can be for both parent and child when it comes time to try out for competitive leagues. If you’re looking for ways to set your kids up for success on the baseball diamond, keep these tips in mind and help them stand ready to impress the coach and improve their future both on and off the field.
Preparing Beforehand
If you want your little one to do well at tryouts, make sure they’re in shape and practicing long before they step in front of a coach. It can be tough to get kids off the couch in those hot summer months, but you can circumvent this behavior by turning physical activity into a game or challenge of sorts with the help of a children’s activity tracker from iBitz. They’ll love seeing the rewards they get from fitting more activity into their days, and this will leave them prepared to impress when they head out to tryouts.
The Right Gear
It’s important for your child to look the part when they step out onto the field. As much as we hate to say it, appearances are important, and that’s true of the tryout world. Make sure your kid is ready to impress with the right gear and equipment, without breaking the bank. It’s not to say you need to run out and buy top of the line baseball bats and gloves, or deck your little one out in a miniature jersey. However, having them show up in a pair of shorts with no equipment will show they’re not serious about the game, and that impression can stick with a discerning coach. Providing them with the right tryout essentials can go a long way and it doesn’t mean you have to put your life savings into gear; find cheap infield gloves here, ask neighbors and family members if they have any hand-me-down bats and equipment you could borrow for the time being, and always check out local listing sites like Craigslist.
Encourage Your Child to Introduce Him/Herself
If your little one has never met the coach before, encourage him or her to go up and introduce themselves before tryouts start. This will help them get noticed from the get-go, and show the coach your child is professional (as much as little ones can be) and confident—a feature every coach wants in a player.
Check Yourself
Coaches aren’t just watching the kids—they’re watching you, as well. Parents are just as much a part of the team when it comes to tryouts, and if you stand out with loud, obnoxious tendencies on the sidelines, it may unfortunately factor into the coach’s decision about your child. Keep comments to a minimum, be positive, but try to refrain from being over-celebratory when your child is doing well in the tryouts.
Be Prompt and Punctual
Life gets busy, and no one understand that better than a fellow parent. However, when it comes to tryouts, ensure you’re there on time (which usually means being early), and be prepared to stay late when time inevitably runs over—we all know how difficult it can be to wrangle kids and keep things punctual. If you truly want your child to succeed in baseball, you need to make a commitment to the sport. Coaches won’t see a late arrival or early departure as the sign of a reliable player. Punctuality is an important skill for every child to learn; lead by example, and make the opportunity to be on time more exciting with the purchase of a children’s watch from Flik Flak. Guaranteed they’ll love showing off this personalized new gadget and it will definitely instill the importance of understanding timelines, a facet every coach will appreciate.
Make sure your child is ready to throw and catch like a pro with these tips and impress the coach by encouraging the aforementioned skills and behaviors—it’s sure to make a difference in both their extracurricular and academic endeavors.
