4/8/17 – What Are You Doing
This has been an interesting week working with a few of my pitching clients, because of how the parents have been. One of the things that I believe parents bring their kids to pitching lessons with the sincere intent on helping their child get better. Why else would they spend the time, money or energy to bring their student athlete at all?
However, what’s so interesting and even more amazing to me is how the parent goes about supporting their kids, for the lesson itself or how they talk about the games, many parents just don’t know how to support them.
For example, in just the past week, I saw a parent verbally and emotionally rip their child that I had to jump in a few times to change the dynamics of the pitching session. What I noticed was the parent was not present and therefore not aware that the kid was hurt.
I remind parents that the kid wants nothing more than to please their parents, so if they are not throwing the ball where we all want, it is not on purpose and it is not about the parent, period, because pitching is hard.
Secondly, one parent I know who has good intentions, but don’t quite get that when you don’t bring them to lessons for 6 or 7 months, and you have not worked with them during that time they are not the second coming of Jenny Finch. But here is the most interesting thing, if you start bringing them back to lessons and you are late getting them there, rushing them when you do show up, do not expect their best. That is not how it works. I always say extracurricular activity like softball, is an extension of the classroom, for all parties involved. Coaches should be held to that standard in terms of how they coach, players should be held to that standard in terms of how they work at it and parents should be held to that standard in terms of how they support their student athlete. We wouldn’t drop our kid off at school every day late.
Then there is the parent who brings them to lessons, but proceeds to do all the coaching, as if they are paying me to watch. Let the person who you hired, who knows at least a little more than what the parent knows, if not more, do the coaching. The kid wants to hear from someone else.
Successful people reach their level of success based on their talent and the many good coaches that helped them. Look at Stephen Curry, he is arguably the best shooter ever in the history of the NBA and he has a team of coaches helping him shoot, stretch, play defense and have a high self-worth. Whose helps you?
“Let no one discourage your ambitious attitude. You don’t need a fan club to achieve your goals. Be your own
motivation.” ~ Mama Zara