Parents: What is the best advice you ever got?

What is the one best piece of advice or tip you ever got that helped you help your high school athlete do better in thier chosen sport?


What is the biggest problem you face as a parent of a teenager who wants to do better in his or her sport?

 

Best advice? Just keep working. Conditioning, throwing , hitting, fielding, religiously. Eat it, sleep it, drink it, love it, live it everyday you can.

Biggest problem(s)? Getting on the field. Add to that we got started so late age wise. Had we started at say age 8 or 10 with rec ball or TB it would have been totally different for us. But when you don't start rec ball until 12 1/2 and go into TB at 13 with little or no mechanics....it was alot of work. And just for fun throw in a knee. We were thrown some scraps here and there and made the best of what we could get, but the main thing was we just kept working everyday. Stayed focused on what we were trying to do, control what we could control and not worry about all the drama, eventhough at times it was incredibly frustrating.

The other big problem was consistant coaching. We'd go to CD and early on CD and Coach Navas at NC State for hitting and fielding, but when we'd go to TB the coach would try to change things. And when you're working with some excellent college coaches and you try talking to a TB coach about mechanics they are not always opened to it and try to change things, or offer no help at all, tell you to go find another team, especially when you struggle. And that was a big problem. There were alot of good game coaches, but at 14U if you are not developed they are not going to do it. Plus, some of them didn't have good practices if/when they could find a field, but everyone has to start somewhere. At least that was our experience.

But with all that said we took anything we could get outside CD and Navas. Couple tournaments with a 12U. Said the wrong thing had to go find another team. Went to and continue to go to any practice or tournament we can get. Played 4 tournaments with a 14U. Joined another team and tore up a knee. Battled back and played 3 14U tournaments with that team. Made HS varsity and letterd as a freshman and got some really excellent coaching at Leesville Road. Guest played in 5 really good 14U and one 16/18u showcase tournament last Spring/Summer and had the best Summer we ever had. Took the Fall off and worked on some more things, started conditioning and hitting in October, and looking to pick up where we left off last August.

With a little luck somewhere down the line you find a good coach who appreciates a hard work ethic and knows what to do with it. It makes a world of difference. But to be good at ANYTHING you do, you've got to put the time in. Hope this helps.

 

I am not sure about what the best advice I received, but I have gotten some good and some not so good. The best advice I would like to offer you is too, try and maintain balance in your families life. It can become obsessive with commitment that it takes, but it is worth it if your daughter really wants it. But please try to have other outlets for you and your family. Many weekends and vacations will be spent playing and practicing prepare yourself the long ride, and when you have chance to enjoy something outside of softball enjoy it with no regrets.

 

Advise

Keep it fun whatever you do and use it to get closer to your DD! All other things will take care of themselves.

 

stiks dad + Lblues 1.......yep. thats what I would say.

 

Difference between boys and girls in sports

I had a college coach tell me that boys have to play well to feel good and girls have to feel good to play well. My approach with my daughter was always wrong before this conversation. It's amazing how much has changed since dad started criticizing less and praising more.

 

Once you decide on a coach, do not get between the coach and the athlete.

 

"don't let softball pick your daughter's college"- Ray Chandler

we get wrapped up in the S word... there is no professional money available in any of this. Choosing the college which best fits your daughter's dreams and aspirations will be a decision which will mold and impact her for the rest of her life.

 

thank you Mr Chandler....!

That's why he is a Hall of Famer!!!!
NC is lucky to have him.