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Youth baseball season has started and it is already hurting my heart. I’m not even talking about some of the coaches and how they speak—or in some cases, yell—at the young boys on their team, or even at the teenage umpires. (One of whom walked away after my son’s game yesterday with red eyes.)
What strikes me even more are the free-flowing tears from 10-year-old boys. Players who get pulled from the pitching mound, make a critical error at first base, or strike out at the plate—ending the game in a loss, after parents in the stands have shouted at them to “be a hero” and save the game.
What strikes me about this is that these boys are feeling their feelings, just as naturally and automatically as they should. But then something happens: Parents and/or coaches tell them to stop crying. (Cue the beginning of boys and men shutting down their feelings.)
Never having played baseball personally, I want to know: where is the balance between helping our boys feel their feelings, while at the same time, learn to manage their emotions while in the middle of a game?
What are your experiences? How did you learn mental toughness and not letting the other team see you get upset—but still allow yourself to really feel how sad you were when you did something wrong? What did your coaches and parents teach you?
Is there too much pressure on little boys to “be the hero” in the game and hit that game-winning home run? What can we do differently as parents and coaches today that maybe wasn’t done when you were playing youth baseball? Share your personal experiences with us!
When you’re ready to submit, click the red box, below.
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