Last spring I started giving out those stickers the girls can put on their batting helmet to our 12U rec ball team. I was giving out one or two per game and was keeping track to make sure everyone got at least one or two over the season. The idea was to give it out when a player did something exceptional for them - not always to the "best" player. For example the player with the best batting average on the team probably won't get one for hitting a double but if a player who is struggling at the plate hits a double she would get a sticker.
On two occasions I heard from parents letting me know their DD was upset because they felt they had been passed over when they deserved one. In one case they were right - it's was sometimes hard to remember this while I'm also trying to manage the game. The parents weren't mad at me or asking me to change what I was doing but wanted me to know their DD was upset.
So to avoid any more complaints I started giving out stickers to every player every game - making sure to identify what they did well during our post game talk. I had one type of sticker for a "hard hit ball" and another for some other type of good play.
So is an award special if everyone gets one? Does it still mean anything to the all-star player if the average player gets the same recognition?
I'm trying to decide whether to continue doing anything like this for the fall season and would like to get some feedback from other rec ball coaches & parents.
On two occasions I heard from parents letting me know their DD was upset because they felt they had been passed over when they deserved one. In one case they were right - it's was sometimes hard to remember this while I'm also trying to manage the game. The parents weren't mad at me or asking me to change what I was doing but wanted me to know their DD was upset.
So to avoid any more complaints I started giving out stickers to every player every game - making sure to identify what they did well during our post game talk. I had one type of sticker for a "hard hit ball" and another for some other type of good play.
So is an award special if everyone gets one? Does it still mean anything to the all-star player if the average player gets the same recognition?
I'm trying to decide whether to continue doing anything like this for the fall season and would like to get some feedback from other rec ball coaches & parents.