Meeting Parent's Expectations on Pitching Their Child

I have had several parents ask me about our expectations as coaches on children that are willing and able to pitch during games. Our roles as coaches are to put each player in positions on the field to succeed individually so the team will have success. It is also our role to ensure the players continue to progress on their baseball skills and get "game ready" for their current level as well as the bigger jump to more advanced League play.


Over the course of the preseason and during the initial phase of the regular season, we have been placing significant emphasis on pitching and would like to get as many players on the mound as possible by the end of the season and prior to playoffs. In order to progress, the players must demonstrate proper form (so as to reduce the risk of injury), mental preparation, and the ability to throw from the mound to the plate with consistency and control to get into a game. I place less emphasis on speed at this age. Speed will come with greater practice and experience. If your son has not pitched yet, please be patient. We continue to work with all the players and ensure their progression.

Sportsmanship and Honor of the Game

Two very important concepts to educate children on are sportsmanship and honor.  What does it mean to you to be a good sport? Wikipedia and other on-line resources define sportsmanship as an aspiration or ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors. Being a "good sport" involves being a "good winner" as well as being a "good loser".

Sportsmanship is important, but in order to get the most out of this season, it is also important to honor the game. Honor is the evaluation of a person's trustworthiness and social status based on that individual's espousals and actions.

Some coaches and mentors will use the principle of "Honoring the Game" and going to the "ROOTS" of the matter.  Each letter in ROOTS stands for an important part of the game that we must respect.

The R stands for Rules. The first O is for Opponents. The next O is for Officials. T is for Teammates, and the S is for Self.

R is for Rules. The rules of the sport are what allow us to keep the game fair. Respect for the rules is important, even when it’s possible to break them without getting caught. I want you to play by the rules, even if you think you won’t get caught if you break them. Breaking the rules dishonors the game, even if it means that we win.

O is for Opponents. Without opponents, we could have no game. A good opponent makes us do our best. Sometimes your opponents are friends of yours. I want you to respect your opponents, and remember they are out there to have fun just like us. I want you to try your hardest to win, not because you hate your opponent, but because you want to play your best. I promise that I will show respect for opposing coaches and teams, and I expect you to do the same.

O is for Officials. It is very important to respect officials. Often, this can be the most difficult part of Honoring the Game, so we need to remember to keep it as a focus when we play. Officials have been selected and trained to enforce rules, and they have a very hard job. Without the officials the game would be unsafe and unfair. Officials are not perfect (just like coaches, athletes and parents!) and sometimes make mistakes. However, there is no excuse for treating officials with disrespect when they make errors. I want you to show respect for officials, even when you disagree with the call. I promise to do the same thing.

T is for Teammates. A big part of sport is the team. Being with your teammates should be fun. Later in life you will often be part of a team, and it is important to learn to work together. I hope you feel a commitment to each other as teammates and that you will agree to always play as hard as you can in practice and games. Please encourage and support each other on and off the playing field.

S is for Self. Some people only Honor the Game when their opponents do, but I want you to Honor the Game no matter what the other team or its fans do. I want us to be the kind of team that Honors the Game even when others aren’t because we set our own internal standards. And we live up to them no matter what. We have so much respect for ourselves that we would never do anything to dishonor the game.

So we, as coaches, must have a "T.E.A.M. — Teach, Enforce, Advocate and Model" approach. These four elements should guide the design of all elements of programs to promote sportsmanship and foster good character as well as guide interactions with players, parents, coaches, officials and spectators.

Goals for recreational ball are different than competitive play

Most, if not all, Little League Programs are considered recreational programs. Equal emphasis should be placed on sportsmanship, teamwork, learning, fun and competition. Managers and coaches need to respond to all players, regardless of ability, in a positive and calm manner. Many children drop out of recreational youth sport programs because of managers and coaches who place too much emphasis on competition and who are less than patient with players who are not at the top of the game.  As the players start to switch over to more advanced levels and leagues, the emphasis on competition increases.  In addition, youth sports offers teachable moments, life lessons that help children succeed in sports and throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should define “winning” not in terms of the scoreboard but by focusing on the bigger picture of their children’s efforts and learning life lessons. Please keep in mind the goals and make it enjoyable for all concerned.

Aspirations of the Youth Player

We, as parents and coaches, need to keep in mind that youth sports are for children, not us. And I find it helpful to remind myself that all children are different and participate in sports for a variety of reasons. The reasons vary by age and personality. Obviously the high school player is going to have different reasons for playing than a 9 year old. Unfortunately, parents and coaches often don't recognize what the children want to get out of the sport. There are some common themes that apply at all levels including having fun, friendships, action, excitement, competition, variety and having a sense of organization, building skills and communication.


To me, children don't want to play if it's not fun and there is not a sense of enjoyment and fulfillment. Again, consider the personality and age of the player. A high school pitcher may think it's fun to practice as hard as he can in order to be successful. The competition is what's fun. For the 9 year old, the competition isn't as important. They are more interested in the action, excitement of playing and hanging out with friends rather than being cooped up in a house focusing on homework. Winning and losing most often means a lot more to the coach and parents than it does to the children.

All children want to be accepted and liked by their peers. Playing on a team gives children the opportunity to form friendships and interact with other children in a setting other than school. The team gives the individual child a group identity and a common purpose. It’s fun sharing the experience with their friends. Many children will only play because their friends are playing. This often is the main driver for involvement.

There is a certain faction of people that hold the belief that organized sports are boring to children. I disagree with this “blanket” statement because I believe it depends on the coach, manager and parents to incorporate variety and games to make the sport routine more enjoyable. When one child is hitting and the rest of the team is in the field shagging balls, you may have taken the fun out of the sport but it should allow you to see opportunity in making it more enjoyable. Try conducting many simultaneous or parallel stations to work on skills.

Boy, it would certainly be nice to still be living in an age when I grew 20-30 years ago in Western New York when your child could head off to the local sandlot or asphalt surface and meet his buddies for a game of baseball or stickball. The reality is that today’s parents won't allow it without supervision. Sometimes, organization can kill the fun. Children want variety and action. This is one reason why I incorporate games of stickball into my practice sessions and I stay out of the way of the “game” being played. The children want to develop different skills and they want to run around and have fun. A practice that keeps them moving, playing games, learning, and has a variety of activities, provides an environment that children will enjoy.

Children also love learning new skills. Case in point, just watch the smile and excitement on a kid’s face after making contact for the first time or catching a ball for the first time. As their skill level improves, the challenges must also increase. If they are not challenged, they will lose interest. This also can apply to adulthood activities!

Competition is likely the least favorite reason that children participate in sports. They don't enjoy competing against their peers, for the most part. I realize there are exceptions. Many children simply don't like the increased pressure of the competition that they feel from coaches and parents. It's that increased pressure that can take away from the enjoyment of the sport. From a parental standpoint, learning how to deal with competition and disappointment is important. However, please temper your enthusiasm and ensure that children aren't “pushed” into highly competitive situations where they either feel the pressure to perform or are not ready.

That said, it is important as a coach and parent that you realize that there are a variety of reasons that children play sports. Finding out what motives your child and players will help you develop a plan for the season that fits in with their desires. Congruity must exist. You’ll soon discover that your methods will provide a rewarding season.