Coaches Corner - The Car Ride Home

With the dozens of awesome communities we have throughout the MBL, we have so many great PEOPLE who have contributed to youth baseball over the years.  MBL Insider got to thinking: those people probably have some really good stories and wisdom to share with other coaches and parents.  Especially new parents and coaches.  We reached out to some of our communities and received some inciteful and powerful responses.  We hope to make this a recurring feature on MBL.bz!

This week we visited with Mike Larsen, a coach from Mendota Heights who has worked with the MHAA baseball program for more than a decade. Mike has coached at all age levels, from 9U through 15U. We asked Mike a basic but big question:

What's one one or two pieces of advice you'd have for new parents in travel baseball?

Here's what he wrote:

The Car Ride Home
The ride home is a great time with your athlete. They were just on the field with their friends. They probably had supporters in the stands. Some strange things may have happened, but hopefully the game was fun and competitive.

Consider what to talk about on the car ride home and what you'd like that experience to be. Some great advice I received and tried to follow was to avoid talking about the player's performance or even the game, at all. Spend time talking about anything but the game. Have them put their phone aside to create a space for conversation. Leave them with memories of enjoyable rides home, regardless of their or their team's performance.

Any feedback on your son or daughter's performance should be positive. Negative feedback will rarely have any benefit. Neither will negative comments about their team, coaches, the other team, or the officials. Be a positive supporter of the player and their team. Comments about the game could be something like: "You have great teammates and it is great to watch you guys improve." Or "It was fun watching you play. Do you want to get a burger or some ice cream?"

Time will go by quickly and kids grow up fast, as they say, and it is true. Your child will depend on you so much when they begin playing. They will grow to be a 15-year-old, with a permit, who drives you home. Have a safe, positive ride home every chance you have.