Goals - Pursuing the Next Level?
What do kids want out of baseball?
Why does there always seem to be friction between kids, parents, and coaches? Lately I have seen a number of posts (and I guess it’s that season) where teams offer anonymous tryouts, coaches complain about being poached, and parents criticize everything. Does anyone really care about the players’ goals? A lot of the contention comes from not understanding or respecting the goals and expectations of the others.
At younger ages, kids want to learn and have fun. There are some exceptions, but at 9 or 10 years old, most just want to have fun. Coaches can typically keep development going by converting drills into fun competitions. We typically don’t see kids complaining about having too much fun. As the kids get older, they receive a lot more competition for their time, and thus, develop different goals. Schoolwork becomes more demanding. Girls enter the picture. Kids figure out what it’s like to work and have money in their pockets. Then the freedom of the driver’s license comes. It’s worth checking in to see if their goals are still the same, or as parents and coaches, do we need to “make an adjustment.”
For the kids who just want to have fun, a great question for them is, “Is it more fun to win or lose?” Winning regularly requires more practice, discipline, and more effort. Before spending the money on private lessons and travel ball, it’s worth the discussion about goals. Many times the kids are pushed into the grind, when they really don’t want the grind. Here is where it is critical to match the kids’ goals with the coaches’ goals. Some coaches are all about winning. They are very selective about team members and are always looking for the better players. Other coaches take what they have and want to turn their players into the best team possible. Not that one’s better than the other, but the players’ goals need to align with the coaches’ goals. The work ethic needs to match. Taking a talented player who doesn’t want to work hard will eventually conflict with the other players who want to work hard to improve. Some players are truly passionate about baseball, and some are just going through the motions. Coaches should also accurately communicate their goals. If you use guest players on a regular basis to help you win, you might be more concerned with winning than teaching. Parents, if you applaud this, you may also be more concerned with winning than development. That’s ok as long as everyone is operating with that understanding. It’s probably not the same for those that are sitting while the guest players take the innings. This is not to be confused when a guest player is needed for a specific position because of a player absence. Guest players can also be necessary during longer tournaments to ensure enough arms to compete.
Playing at the next level means just that. For each individual player, the next level for them may differ from others. For some it’s moving from rec to travel, from regional to national level, from travel to high school, etc. For many, it has been Cooperstown, and then they hang up the cleats after that. For others, that time comes later. I have seen some talented kids who decided during high school not to pursue college ball. Some high schoolers lose interest as their goals change. I’ve seen them leave baseball to pursue college and a medical degree. I’ve seen them forgo college to learn a trade. Trying to force the next level just doesn’t work. The rigor and discipline will not happen without dedication and passion.
Whatever the player’s goals, parents should understand them and work to match them with the right team and coach. Everyone will be much happier overall. Coaches, players, and parents often reinforce being a team player. It’s really hard to be a team player when your goals don’t match the team. It’s critical that coaches, parents, and players ensure shared goals. When talent, work ethic, and goals align, great things happen!!
Good luck to all those grinding for the next level!