As soon as the opposing team had cleared the field and the stands were emptied of all but the loyal parents and followers of our team, out came our kids in a straight line headed for home plate. The coach took his position at first base and motioned to the first child in line, who happened to be my son, to began running toward first base. Then the coach moved to second base, the next child began running toward first and my son ran hard toward second base. Much to my dismay, just a few feet short of second base, my son hit the dust and slid the last distance until his foot hit the bag. What in the world is Coach up to I thought, looking squarely toward my husband who should have taken the look for its intended purpose: Go out there and tell him these kids are too young to be sliding into base!

He simply gave me that look that says, Mom, just keep your mouth shut and be patient. One thing us mothers learn early in the sporting careers of our children, is to never do or say anything that will bring embarrassment to your kid. So I bit my lip and watched the next child take his turn at sliding into second base. His mother had yet to be schooled in the art of being silent. Whats going on out there, she shouted. Someones going to get hurt! After a few more turns and several more calls from the bleachers, coach stopped the action and proceeded toward the stands. He had our undivided attention as he cleared his throat to speak.

“Your children will move on next year to the next level of difficulty in the arena of baseball”, he said. We have two choices: leave them to their own devices to attempt maneuvers that are new and somewhat dangerous to them, or teach them the most precise and safe way to accomplish these skills, such as sliding into base. Now which category would you rather find your child in? He crossed his arms, waiting for a response. One by one, mothers, grandmothers, dads and uncles agreed that he had the best interests of the children at heart.

That was when I realized how many people would have influence on my child in the world of youth sports. Not all coaches, teachers, and advisors will have the heartfelt concern for the best outcome for your child. As a parent, its important to do your homework to determine what the underlying motive is when you observe questionable training for your child. Its a scary thing to watch someone stretch and mold your child toward their full potential. While trying to bring out the best in your kid, many risks will be taken and there will be a fine line between pushing the envelope and crossing the line while maximizing potential. Proceed cautiously and educate yourself about the sport your child is competing in. While it is good to be concerned, questioning every tactic a coach employs could potentially undercut your child’s progression. In my case, a little bit of trust went a long way.