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DecaturDad
619 Posts |
 Posted - 04/18/2011 : 11:53:05
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| I was talking with some parents this weekend at an 11U touramant, and noticed that many of them had been told by thier kids that baseball was getting boring. They wanted to spend more time with other, faster paced sports. I realize non of us want to or should be forcing or kids into any sport. But how do you keep that passion alive? |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2011 : 14:03:16
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Some of the boys, like my son, don't really want to do anything else. I've told him I thought he would like football, but he wants to play fall baseball. He didn't go out for the school basketball team because he knew it would overlap with baseball. Plays rec hoops just to do something.
For other kids who don't just want to play baseball.
1) Don't make them play year round.
2) Do what they are asking. Give them time for other sports. Let them play football, lacrosse, run cross country in the Fall. Let them play hoops or wrestle in the winter. And don't start baseball until the winter sports are done.
I know the above are fantasies, but if you want to keep the passion alive go by that old showbiz motto-"Leave 'em wanting more." You don't do that by starting practice the first weekend in January and ending the season the last weekend in July.
your mileage may vary... |
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ramman999
241 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2011 : 16:04:12
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wow, 11 is getting early for getting "bored" - I've heard it starts later on. But 12-15 tournaments is basically playing every other weekend or so starting in March - that can be close to 70 games in spring alone - don't know about you, but my little league season up north was only 12-15 games max growing up. Can sort of see someone getting burned out..
Honestly, probably the best advise is to not over-play. It's really challenging, but that's what you have to do to prevent burnout - off weeks don't let them near a ball or a glove. Don't let them get complacent. Keep them away for a while - if they miss it they will be back...
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4bagger
131 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2011 : 17:04:37
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We've always asked our son if he wants to play or not. He always has but this year he's getting more burned out. Our season was designed to end June 30th and give the kids all of July to themselves and he's really excited about the month away from ball. He's asked to play middle school football this fall so thats what we'll do. If he wants to play baseball in the spring of 2012 he knows the commitment and he'll make his own decision.
But mom and pop are always on pins and needles with our fingers crossed begging the baseball Gods he'll say he wants to play another season! :)
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PerfectGame
55 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2011 : 19:51:08
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| I don't think there's anything a parent can do to keep the passion alive. It's either there or it isn't. And sometimes it just goes away and is replaced with other things. But I'm with you ... and hope and pray the passion stays alive for a long, long time. ;) |
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oldmanmj
191 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2011 : 21:52:45
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| Wow, bored of baseball at 11U, hard for me to believe. They should just be getting wound up about the game. My 2 sons have averaged 70 plus games a summer season for 4 and 6 years each. They can't get enough. They also play other sports; football, basketball, soccer. Either the team they are with, the coaches they have or their own idea of how the game is makes them bored. If you are playing all out and so are your teammates, trust me the game isn't boring. Some one needs to find out why they are bored. Because unless you are winning everything, every weekend and have done so for many years, how can you be bored? |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2011 : 22:09:27
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quote:
Originally posted by oldmanmj
Wow, bored of baseball at 11U, hard for me to believe. They should just be getting wound up about the game. My 2 sons have averaged 70 plus games a summer season for 4 and 6 years each. They can't get enough. They also play other sports; football, basketball, soccer. Either the team they are with, the coaches they have or their own idea of how the game is makes them bored. If you are playing all out and so are your teammates, trust me the game isn't boring. Some one needs to find out why they are bored. Because unless you are winning everything, every weekend and have done so for many years, how can you be bored?
Your kids (and mine) are the exception, not the rule. Not every kid is wired to play 70 games a year from the age of 8 or 9. In fact, I would say most aren't.
One post in here says that they are stopping on 6/30. My son's team has never played past July 4 (Cooperstown), usually done the last week of June. About a week or two later, he's ready to go again.
Leave 'em wanting more. |
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coachtony
236 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2011 : 23:28:10
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I actually had this same conversation with a friend of mine this weekend and I agreed with what he said 100%. He said that his older son (around 14 or 15, I think) was talking about giving up baseball and my friend told his son that it would be fine if that's what he wanted to do but that before he did he needed to tell him what he planned to do with his time. He could either choose another sport, get a 40-hour per week summer job, or he would find him 40 hours of work to do each week around the house. No exceptions. My friends contention is that kids with nothing to do get into trouble...no matter how good they are....trouble just has this way of finding kids that have no commitments. So, he was going to make sure that his son was committed to something....anything....but he wasn't going to allow him to "goof off" all summer.
I bet his kid is playing baseball again this Summer...but that's just me.
--T
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ramman999
241 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 08:09:48
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Last season at 9u with another team, we played August through November, took off December, and picked up indoors in January, first tournament was middle of February and finished up at Disney in August. By the Elite 32 the kids looked tired. We played an every other weekend tournament schedule with a one week shutdown. Just over 90 games total Fall and Spring.
This season played 6 tournaments in the fall with previous team, Shut down December and January, picked up indoors with new team in February, started tournaments mid march and we are shutting down after Cooperstown (10u week) - playing a 3 week on 1 week off tournament schedule, and two scheduled down weeks for spring breaks(no practice, no tournaments) - all said should be around 80 games or so total fall and spring, and off the entire month of July -
Same amount of ball, but in a condensed time frame. I am curious how my son responds to the difference in scheduling - he is the kind of kid that is playing baseball in the neighborhood if he isn't at the field - I catch him hitting in the cage or throwing during off weeks - we physically have to take his gloves and bats away, and even then he will find something the throw or hit, so down time for him is different.
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 09:17:41
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quote:
Originally posted by coachtony
I actually had this same conversation with a friend of mine this weekend and I agreed with what he said 100%. He said that his older son (around 14 or 15, I think) was talking about giving up baseball and my friend told his son that it would be fine if that's what he wanted to do but that before he did he needed to tell him what he planned to do with his time. He could either choose another sport, get a 40-hour per week summer job, or he would find him 40 hours of work to do each week around the house. No exceptions. My friends contention is that kids with nothing to do get into trouble...no matter how good they are....trouble just has this way of finding kids that have no commitments. So, he was going to make sure that his son was committed to something....anything....but he wasn't going to allow him to "goof off" all summer.
I bet his kid is playing baseball again this Summer...but that's just me.
--T
Problem is he probably hasn't been exposed to any other sport. What if he said OK and that he wanted to play golf? Also, why a 40 hour job? Do they spend 40 hours a week on baseball? Whatever the case, I'm not sure how equating playing baseball with getting a job is going to re-instill the kid's passion and excitement for baseball.
I get your friend's point completely, but I think that just boils down to dad making him play baseball again. Not sure it's keeping the passion going. |
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AABB16
17 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 09:20:08
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quote:
Originally posted by ramman999
Last season at 9u with another team, we played August through November, took off December, and picked up indoors in January, first tournament was middle of February and finished up at Disney in August. By the Elite 32 the kids looked tired. We played an every other weekend tournament schedule with a one week shutdown. Just over 90 games total Fall and Spring.
This season played 6 tournaments in the fall with previous team, Shut down December and January, picked up indoors with new team in February, started tournaments mid march and we are shutting down after Cooperstown (10u week) - playing a 3 week on 1 week off tournament schedule, and two scheduled down weeks for spring breaks(no practice, no tournaments) - all said should be around 80 games or so total fall and spring, and off the entire month of July -
Same amount of ball, but in a condensed time frame. I am curious how my son responds to the difference in scheduling - he is the kind of kid that is playing baseball in the neighborhood if he isn't at the field - I catch him hitting in the cage or throwing during off weeks - we physically have to take his gloves and bats away, and even then he will find something the throw or hit, so down time for him is different.
Too much at 9U even if they do love it more than anything else. By 13 your best pitchers will be toast and half the other kids will not even be able to spell baseball. |
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DecaturDad
619 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 09:31:12
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Tony,
My sister has four kids. She has told me on more then one occation that her biggest regret was letting the boys stop playing sports. They all turned out OK, but there were some questionable times in there. So i agree, some sport needs to be played.
But what about the kids who play multiple sports. How do you keep them interested in baseball? Football, basketball and my son's latest: hockey are more "intense" then baseball.
quote:
Originally posted by coachtony
I actually had this same conversation with a friend of mine this weekend and I agreed with what he said 100%. He said that his older son (around 14 or 15, I think) was talking about giving up baseball and my friend told his son that it would be fine if that's what he wanted to do but that before he did he needed to tell him what he planned to do with his time. He could either choose another sport, get a 40-hour per week summer job, or he would find him 40 hours of work to do each week around the house. No exceptions. My friends contention is that kids with nothing to do get into trouble...no matter how good they are....trouble just has this way of finding kids that have no commitments. So, he was going to make sure that his son was committed to something....anything....but he wasn't going to allow him to "goof off" all summer.
I bet his kid is playing baseball again this Summer...but that's just me.
--T
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 09:58:50
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quote:
Originally posted by DecaturDad
Tony,
My sister has four kids. She has told me on more then one occation that her biggest regret was letting the boys stop playing sports. They all turned out OK, but there were some questionable times in there. So i agree, some sport needs to be played.
But what about the kids who play multiple sports. How do you keep them interested in baseball? Football, basketball and my son's latest: hockey are more "intense" then baseball.
quote:
Originally posted by coachtony
I actually had this same conversation with a friend of mine this weekend and I agreed with what he said 100%. He said that his older son (around 14 or 15, I think) was talking about giving up baseball and my friend told his son that it would be fine if that's what he wanted to do but that before he did he needed to tell him what he planned to do with his time. He could either choose another sport, get a 40-hour per week summer job, or he would find him 40 hours of work to do each week around the house. No exceptions. My friends contention is that kids with nothing to do get into trouble...no matter how good they are....trouble just has this way of finding kids that have no commitments. So, he was going to make sure that his son was committed to something....anything....but he wasn't going to allow him to "goof off" all summer.
I bet his kid is playing baseball again this Summer...but that's just me.
--T
You don't. You let them pick. My older son plays rec ball, but likes basketball a lot better. My younger son devours baseball and gets how much is going on when to the untrained eye it looks like not much is happening. I didn't do anything to drive either boy in the direction he chose except introduce them to the sports when they were little.
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coachtony
236 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 10:37:31
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Allstar....I admit that I got off the original topic a little bit but my friends attempt to force his kid to do SOMETHING was not designed to reignite his passion for baseball...it was designed to keep him busy and out of trouble. I think the two go hand in hand.
DD...I think Allstar is right, if he loses his passion for baseball but loves Hockey, for example, then maybe he needs to play Hockey for a while. Dont worry that, at 11, the game will pass him by. If he decides that he misses baseball after a year or two I am sure that with a few lessons he will be right back in shape. Also, don't be surprised that when baseball sign ups come back around next year if he doesn't decide that maybe he wants to give it "just one more year" ;)
--T
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zwndad
170 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 10:50:11
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I agree with Coach Tony on a lot of what he said. In fact, I had a very similar conversation with one of my boys. We have to ask ourselves why we want our kids to play baseball (or do anything else that they do). There are so many reasons:
- to play MLB (congrats if you can make it)
- to play in college (congrats again)
- to play in high school (a lot of good reasons to do this)
- to be physically active
- to learn to compete (in baseball, in sport, in life)
- to keep busy and out of trouble
- to learn to be a man
- to learn to be a contributing part of a community
- to learn spiritual maturity in the face of victory and defeat.
I'm sure I left some other important reasons out.
In my opinion, the last 6 on this list far outweigh the first 3 (except maybe for the multi-million dollar MLB contracts, lol). So, we have to keep our boys doing things to help them achieve these life goals.
If baseball is getting boring at any age, it's probably time to try something a little different.
I talked to my son (9th grade) about how else he might achieve these life goals if he hangs up baseball. He didn't have a good answer, so I told him to keep playing until he comes up with a good answer.
It turns out that as he has worked through a serious injury this season, he has learned a lot about himself and life.
The point is ... know why you're doing it, so that when it's time to pull back a little or move on to something else altogether, you can guide your boys in the best direction for them.
I hope this doesn't sound preachy ... I just wanted to share a real experience we just went through that I hope speaks to the heart of the issue of getting bored with baseball. |
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ramman999
241 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 11:03:19
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quote:
Originally posted by AABB16 Too much at 9U even if they do love it more than anything else.
I'd agree to a point (especially about the pitchers - one reason why we left the other team), but I give him the choice every season, and he chooses baseball 10 times out of 10. Since he was 4 he's played just about everything - soccer, baseball,hockey, an occasional round of golf with his grandfather and me, you name it. He does plays basketball in the winter and wants to try lacrosse this fall, but given the choice always chooses baseball first - if he decides he wants a break from baseball, I am fine with it, but he enjoys it, is good at it and he is as competitive as ever about it - whether its on the field, or playing Wii! It's his passion, and I will support it.
As far as too much baseball - Think about all the activities your sons do - hobbies, activities, etc. If your kid plays sports, does cub/boy scouts, maybe bowls, belongs to some activity group - count up all of the hours they are "occupied" - I bet it adds up to at least as many hours in the grand scheme of things. Some kids choose to invest all of that time into one activity, Baseball. I am fine with that.
One more point and I am finished - In the book "Outliers" the key to success in any field is, to a large extent, a matter of practicing a specific task, targeting around 10,000 hours. That's a lot of baseball for kids that dream of the major leagues.
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Edited by - ramman999 on 04/19/2011 12:32:00 |
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Stinger44
49 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 11:34:32
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quote:
Originally posted by AllStar
quote:
Originally posted by coachtony
I actually had this same conversation with a friend of mine this weekend and I agreed with what he said 100%. He said that his older son (around 14 or 15, I think) was talking about giving up baseball and my friend told his son that it would be fine if that's what he wanted to do but that before he did he needed to tell him what he planned to do with his time. He could either choose another sport, get a 40-hour per week summer job, or he would find him 40 hours of work to do each week around the house. No exceptions. My friends contention is that kids with nothing to do get into trouble...no matter how good they are....trouble just has this way of finding kids that have no commitments. So, he was going to make sure that his son was committed to something....anything....but he wasn't going to allow him to "goof off" all summer.
I bet his kid is playing baseball again this Summer...but that's just me.
--T
Problem is he probably hasn't been exposed to any other sport. What if he said OK and that he wanted to play golf? Also, why a 40 hour job? Do they spend 40 hours a week on baseball? Whatever the case, I'm not sure how equating playing baseball with getting a job is going to re-instill the kid's passion and excitement for baseball.
I get your friend's point completely, but I think that just boils down to dad making him play baseball again. Not sure it's keeping the passion going.
I get his point.
Like my old Sunday school teacher used to say....
"Idle hands are the Umpires playground"
Aint that the truth. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 12:45:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Stinger44
quote:
Originally posted by AllStar
quote:
Originally posted by coachtony
I actually had this same conversation with a friend of mine this weekend and I agreed with what he said 100%. He said that his older son (around 14 or 15, I think) was talking about giving up baseball and my friend told his son that it would be fine if that's what he wanted to do but that before he did he needed to tell him what he planned to do with his time. He could either choose another sport, get a 40-hour per week summer job, or he would find him 40 hours of work to do each week around the house. No exceptions. My friends contention is that kids with nothing to do get into trouble...no matter how good they are....trouble just has this way of finding kids that have no commitments. So, he was going to make sure that his son was committed to something....anything....but he wasn't going to allow him to "goof off" all summer.
I bet his kid is playing baseball again this Summer...but that's just me.
--T
Problem is he probably hasn't been exposed to any other sport. What if he said OK and that he wanted to play golf? Also, why a 40 hour job? Do they spend 40 hours a week on baseball? Whatever the case, I'm not sure how equating playing baseball with getting a job is going to re-instill the kid's passion and excitement for baseball.
I get your friend's point completely, but I think that just boils down to dad making him play baseball again. Not sure it's keeping the passion going.
I get his point.
Like my old Sunday school teacher used to say....
"Idle hands are the Umpires playground"
Aint that the truth.
This conversation took place several years ago:
Older son: I don't think I want to play baseball this fall.
Me: No problem. Do you want to play football or lacrosse or something?
Older son: No, I just don't think I want to play any sport.
Me: That's fine. This would be a great opportunity to start those piano lessons we were talking about.
Younger Son: Guess who's playing baseball this fall.
He played and had a lot of fun on the rec team that picked him. Now he plays rec baseball and hoops, plays an instrument and is on the math team at his school.
The younger one can't understand why he wants to do anything but play baseball.
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nwgadad
137 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 13:38:37
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| My son has big Thumbs already. If he quits baseball they will get even bigger. He thinks he can just play video games all the time! |
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Keeping baseball from getting boring?
