Batter Up! - Sportsmanship

My oldest (we'll affectionately and proudly call him, "Boo") loves baseball. Wonder where he gets that from? This picture from a few weeks ago shows Boo with a medal the kids can win each week for exhibiting good sportsmanship on the field. In our little league of 5 and 6-year-olds sportsmanship generally means - when we're fielding we must recall this is baseball not tackle football. We're also attempting, with quite a great degree of success, to hit without a tee for the first time.

Since Boo's team is coached by my father-in-law, Frank, (with yours truly as designated pitcher) I have learned that sportsmanship evolves. Each week all the coaches in the league have to stress values like courage, focus, teamwork, kindness, or respect. Frank manages to boil that down in a way all our 5 year old tikes understand, repeat, and then demonstrate. I think he missed his calling as a teacher or actual coach.

Those values we stress to the kids sometimes seem so nonexistent in today's sports world, and well, the world in general. #Deflategate, #JackieRobinsonWestCheat, #Spygate, #PEDs, #electronictampering, the domestic violence and abuse, the focus on television deals, player contracts, money, money, money... I feel a song coming on...

Boo may not know all that goes on in sports or the world yet, and God help me shield him from it and protect his innocence for as long as possible. But, he's smart, he's perceptive, he'll overhear. It's everywhere. What should a dad or a mom do?

Be a pitcher. Keep throwing values to your kids. Over and over. You'll put the bat in their hands by repetition, and leading by example with your own focus on them, with kindness, patience, courage, teamwork and respect in your homes. Then let them be the hitter. Chances will be good they'll connect.

#family #baseball #teeball #Boo #sportsmanship