DISQUS

Bill · 1 year ago

I have played and coached at every level of amateur baseball. I've enjoyed playing with some great players and I've both enjoyed and not enjoyed coaching young baseball players. I've enjoyed coaching those players who genuinely enjoy the many extra months of a focus on "baseball only". For those athletes I think the opportunity to continue playing baseball beyond the usual baseball season is great. I have however coached many young athletes who would much rather be enjoying participation in another sport once the usual baseball season is over but are pressured to focus on baseball pretty much year round by either a parent, a coach or both. They are often told that without this focus on one specific sport only they will never make the high school or legion team. Often times they have been pressured by an otherwise well-meaning parent to remain focused on the one sport while that parent is pretty much unaware they themselves are the ones enjoying that intense focus on baseball for example, something they were probably not skilled enough to do when they were the age of their child. My point is, as parents I think we should all pay special attention to who is the one really enjoying this year round focus on one sport. Sometimes our own enthusiasm puts our kid on a baseball field in October when he or she may rather be playing football in the fall. I love almost all sports. Even in these times, as a coach, I've seen many young athletes succeed in both football and baseball at the high school level and baseball at the Legion and college level when they did not maintain a single-minded focus on baseball alone while coming up through the ranks. In my opinion it is important to be a well rounded athlete especially as a young person so that you don't run the risk of losing interest in potentially all sports due to burnout in one.

Bob Hammerstrom · 1 year ago

These are some great points you make Bill. I'm fortunate not to have to push my son, Brandon to play sports and keep active. He lives for them, and has since he was young (I can't say little, cause he never was!). He's not the over-aggressive type that has to win everything, but he does enjoy the competition.

When he has a free night, he asks me to take him to the baseball field to hit some balls, or play catch with the football in our yard. Occasionally, I've had to say no, when he has been practicing all day, and I feel his body needs the break to recover and heal.

Saturday will be his first high school scrimmage against Souhegan H.S. at Memorial in Manchester. It will be interesting to watch him out there. People have often asked him if he plays football, since he is so big, and he's always said, "No, I play soccer in the fall." This year he is trying football. His size will help him as a QB and linebacker, but he still needs to figure out how not to throw a pass like a fastball!

-Bob Hammerstrom

online petition · 1 year ago

My kid has been playing baseball since he was 3. I don't push him either, he pushes me and of course I'm happy to help.

"Now that your son or daughter is finishing up their last year of Cal Ripken or Little League, are you planning for the next stage of their youth baseball career? You should be!"

garima · 7 months ago

I think that Most of the coaches at Midland are there for the right reasons. However, with that said I want to know what happened to the idea of this being for the kids.The coaches are suppose to be doing this for THE kids, not THEIR kids.I think the board needs to step up and take a close look at how some of the coaches are treating their players. We pay for our kids to play ball, to have fun and to keep them involved in a positive activity. Kids should not be penalized because they miss a game
forums de jeux because their parents wont bring them

Steam Cleaners · 5 months ago

I always played baseball when I was a kid.. I'm pressured to become a great baseball player by my parents even my only goal is just to enjoy playing it.. This post will surely help others..Nice job..