Do you attend your daughter's practice?

[Beeg]

I always watch their practices except for indoors. In 10U, many parents hanged around. But by 12U, a few of us lingered, since most of us drive to far to go home and come back. By 2nd yr 12U, no one hangs around except I. I told the coach I watch the practices to help DD. I helped get balls that went far out from the field for exercises. I caught if they needed someone to warm up the pitchers. I also do Game Changer during their games since I know all the player's names.

Last season the HC asked me to be their pitching coach since I've been going to every pitching lesson since DD was 8, and I know more about pitching than the HC. When there are no coaches for a practice, I'll fill in since I know what they have been working on.

Parents should stay for practices if they can, as it helps us learn the game better and to talk to the kids what to work on after a game. DD actually was upset with me when I don't come to practice, b/c she can't tell me what they are working on and how she can improve. The other day I stayed to help out, and they were working on new signs. I was able to quiz DD in our car rides. Go to their practices if you can, it will just help your DD plus gives you bonus bonding time.

 

[Tatonka]

You'll miss them when they're gone....

 

[Rick M]

You'll miss them when they're gone....

This!! I hang around outdoor practices and DD is a second-year 14. I make no excuses, I’m not there to help or for bathroom runs. I just love to watch DD play. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing. She amazes me with her skill and dedication every day, and I don’t want to miss a minute of it.

ETA: I do not go to school practices, as much as I’d like to.

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[Orange Socks]

When I wasn't coaching, I stayed. Most parents were driving their kids to practice since it was so far away. Some lived 2 hours away. No one lived close to the practice fields so it was social time for the parents. The coach even lived an hour away. This is how we figured out which colleges were hosting camps and we shared information on recruiting. 3 hour practices during the summer (T,W,Th) and sometimes 8 hours on the weekends in the fall. Once DD got her license I gradually gave her some freedom to drive herself. Houston traffic is no joke.

 

[_MIA_]

There is something to be said for letting your kid do things without having her parent there every second of the day...21st century helicopter parenting at its best.

 

[Orange Socks]

This!! I hang around outdoor practices and DD is a second-year 14. I make no excuses, I’m not there to help or for bathroom runs. I just love to watch DD play. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing. She amazes me with her skill and dedication every day, and I don’t want to miss a minute of it.

ETA: I do not go to school practices, as much as I’d like to.

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HS practices is the NO Fly zone!

 

[Eric F]

Always have, and still do (DD is currently 16yo, but doesn't have her drivers license yet). Up until starting with her current team, my DD's practices have always been a long enough drive for it to not make sense to go back home, and there have always been a handful of other parents in the same boat, so it became a social gathering. Currently, I could easily go home, but tend to stick around for the socials with a couple other parents. Good friendships are built this way.

HS practices are the exception.

 

[Eric F]

There is something to be said for letting your kid do things without having her parent there every second of the day...21st helicopter parenting at its best.

Some of my best friends are at the softball field. I go there to hang out with them.

 

[_MIA_]

best friends

Wouldn't know anything about that.

 

[Eric F]

Wouldn't know anything about that.

Sorry to hear that.