We'll be back to contend in 2024

[*bengalfan74*]

(12-26-2022, 12:33 PM)samhain Wrote: My 9 year-old loved baseball.  He watches it, he plays baseball video games and he liked playing.  I def spent my fair share on high-dollar equipment.  He's a big kid and he's smart and super coachable, so long as I'm not the coach, lol. He also likes soccer, martial arts and going to Bengals games with me.  He wouldn't be able to do any of that stuff if he got on the travel ball/private lesson path, so guess what sport he doesn't play anymore?  it was by his choice, but I'm not forcing my kid to do anything at the expense of every other thing he enjoys at that age.  

We had a kid on his 7U team that was absolutely a special talent.  Just different in his ability and understanding.  Fast with a huge arm, great swing, and not really even all that big.  He was a machine.  His dad was the coach and stayed on his ass for 2 straight hours every single practice.  Just brutal to the point where it annoyed other parents.  then they'd pack up and go to other games later in the day, and they played year round.  One day I asked the kid what team he liked in MLB.  He said he didn't know and didn't really watch baseball or know about many players.  I'm not even sure the kid even liked baseball, from the way he talked.  Just a disaster waiting to happen.

That's the key. My buddy is making them do it round the clock. "i bought this batting cage time and that's a $350 bat" "Get you butt in there and swing"

You can't turn a fun time game into a full time job when a child is 9. Does a high dollar bat really make a kid hit better ? There's zero need to put them under pressure at that age. They're going to chase the occasional butterfly in the outfield, it's fine. Teach them to pay attention with a calm voice and a smile. It will get you much further than cussing and yelling.

I'd bet he'll drive them right out of the game.