What Many Softball Parents Are Forgetting

[@SnapSoftball]

Do you keep FUN as your #1 priority for your kids?

[@DrewStarrsPierce]

What are your thoughts on parents and coaches who put winning at the core? I feel like playing competitively adds to the fun, but only showing value in winning fun is hard to sustain.

[@SnapSoftball]

there's a balance. winning matters, competitiveness matters - to the player. you play to win. but parents shouldnt be the ones concerned about winning - thats for the kid, the player herself to worry about. parents shouldnt be wrapped up in it.

[@aperez6775]

Thank you so much for this video 😢😢 I really needed to hear this.

[@grantd1011]

I agree totally however it gets difficult sometimes especially when your daughter is a pitcher. It takes so much effort and work to stay competitive. As a dad of a 14u daughter who has played since 8u I try my best to keep her balanced with fun and working at getting better. Between weekly pitching lessons, batting lessons, travel ball practices, practicing at home, high school workouts, etc., it is a challenge to keep her smiling. She loves the game so much that shes still smiling and knows the importance of practice. I think it’s also important to have another side hobby that lets them escape. She loves fishing so when we have some time for it I make sure to let her “wet a hook” as much as possible.

[@SnapSoftball]

Sports become less "Smiley" type of fun as you get older and the preparation and practice becomes more like work. So my message here is still, as a parent, keeping the mood light and being proud of them no matter what, and letting your kid play because its what they want to do. Baseball was very serious business for me when I got older, but i grew up playing it in my backyard, having a great time. So, that love became less smiles and giggles and more excitement and adrenaline. But, parents are still there in providing unconditional support and admiration for their kids doing what they love, rather than doing it for some payoff. Thanks for the comment!

[@phdyoutubedegree1939]

yeah some parents use their kids sports career as something for them to get away from things then things get toxic. My daughter is starting really late at 14. She has played other sports soccer(3years) and was into gymnastics(2years) and now softball which is my thing. So I got to be careful that I don't over do it and take the fun out of it for her. Good Luck Parents.

[@keithflury8046]

After my daughter plays a tournament I ask her three questions, did you have fun, favorite part of tournament and least favorite. It’s a game and it’s suppose to be fun.

[@SnapSoftball]

that's great - that mindset will be a huge part of what she remembers when her career eventually comes to a close someday.

[@StarCooki3]

At younger age, have to encourage impossible to win fight against iPads, KZbin and video games. Improving, building confidence , exercise, and being competitive important. At younger age winning doesn’t matter it’s gm getting the love for game / grind … video games are terrible

[@SnapSoftball]

My take on video games is that they're just weeding out the kids who wouldn't be great athletes anyway, the kids who enjoy but don't love their sport. I dont think video games have taken any kid with deep passion away from their sport.

[@StarCooki3]

@@SnapSoftball Maybe .. I don’t know but until they become teenagers have to limit screen time , might be age dependent and the encouragement… As for fun , tough for kids to have fun if they improve even if it’s slowly which is fine , so much practice and no games is tough for a young kid , practice should have some sort of competition or reward or at least build commaradee … confidence can be fragile or slow in some

[@SnapSoftball]

100% agree that limiting screen time, especially social media, will do SO much good for kids