Having Fun is Just One Motivator - 365 Days to Better Baseball

Motivational Monday Tip of the Day Youth baseball more than just having fun

Sport success is not easy and striking out all the time is certainly not fun.

Adults should be careful of just saying, "Have fun," to youth ball players as if that is all that sport is about. There is more to sport and baseball than just having fun. Of course, fun is part of it, but there is so much more. Sports involve work, dedication, focus, and athleticism, just to name a few things.

The good news is that when coaches and parents are encouraging and supportive of those other ingredients an increase in self-esteem follows, along with a well-adjusted athlete.

Adults, who teach, challenge, and allow them to be kids with their teammates will notice that kids are having fun they want them to have. Parents, who deride, over-expect, and demand hard work zap the fun out of sport for kids.

Kids will have fun when they stay out of the player's way with negativity and excessive pressure. The moral of the story is that adults should not insist kids are just having fun, they should encourage practice, and dedication the resulting self-esteem from putting in the effort will be fun, win or lose.