- Jun 18, 2010
- 2,615
- 38
I finally get it...
If there is one thing I have learned from the DFP forums is this fast pitch experience is not about me, it is about the girls. Let me explain. I am a work in progress, a type A personality, controlling, competitive, with the propensity to be “one-of-those-parents”. I have been regularly reading the forums now for about a year, and have read many of the crazy parent stories. The truth is, I didn’t realize I was closer to the crazy parent side than I would have liked to have been. I told myself I wanted to win for the team, but I think I wanted to win more for me than I realized. Reading some of these threads has helped me realize my goal as a coach and dad is to create a fun environment for the girls and to create an experience that makes them love the game. I have turned over a new leaf. Last night , the first game in our 12U rec league, we faced our nemeses team. DD pitched a great game only gave up 3 hits in 6 innings. We lost 4-3 from runs directly attributed to errors and dropped 3rd strikes. Throughout the game I kept a positive outlook, offering praise, complements, and telling the girls to shake off the bad plays on focus on the next. The old me would have been more critical and would not have maintained such a positive outlook. Across the field, I noticed the opposing coach yelling and barking orders at his girls. I realized how much more fun our crew was having, and instead of getting tight late in the game we were still loose and having fun. We had the tying run on third, and had a chance to score with a passed ball. Things didn’t work out for us, but after the game the team was upbeat positive, and looking forward to a rematch later in the season. We didn’t win on paper, but I think we on the right track for winning in more important ways. Thanks posters on DFP.
If there is one thing I have learned from the DFP forums is this fast pitch experience is not about me, it is about the girls. Let me explain. I am a work in progress, a type A personality, controlling, competitive, with the propensity to be “one-of-those-parents”. I have been regularly reading the forums now for about a year, and have read many of the crazy parent stories. The truth is, I didn’t realize I was closer to the crazy parent side than I would have liked to have been. I told myself I wanted to win for the team, but I think I wanted to win more for me than I realized. Reading some of these threads has helped me realize my goal as a coach and dad is to create a fun environment for the girls and to create an experience that makes them love the game. I have turned over a new leaf. Last night , the first game in our 12U rec league, we faced our nemeses team. DD pitched a great game only gave up 3 hits in 6 innings. We lost 4-3 from runs directly attributed to errors and dropped 3rd strikes. Throughout the game I kept a positive outlook, offering praise, complements, and telling the girls to shake off the bad plays on focus on the next. The old me would have been more critical and would not have maintained such a positive outlook. Across the field, I noticed the opposing coach yelling and barking orders at his girls. I realized how much more fun our crew was having, and instead of getting tight late in the game we were still loose and having fun. We had the tying run on third, and had a chance to score with a passed ball. Things didn’t work out for us, but after the game the team was upbeat positive, and looking forward to a rematch later in the season. We didn’t win on paper, but I think we on the right track for winning in more important ways. Thanks posters on DFP.
