Learn It, Live It, Love It: The Parent's Role in the Stands
There’s something about baseball that stirs the soul. The crack of the bat, the smell of fresh-cut grass, the kids squinting in the sunlight, standing just a little too close to second base. It’s pure, imperfect magic. But if you’ve been around little league long enough, you know that magic can evaporate faster than ice cream on a July afternoon when things heat up in the stands.
I’ll say it plain: parents are part of the game. But not *in* the game. And that distinction is the difference between a season your kids will remember fondly and one they’ll quietly hope to forget.
Every season, I see a sign hanging somewhere near the dugout of some field, or stapled to a backstop that says something along these lines:
PLEASE REMEMBER
- We’re just KIDS, learning and having fun.
- This is a GAME, not the big leagues.
- Our coaches are VOLUNTEERS.
- Umpires are HUMAN, and mistakes happen.
- ENCOURAGING and POSITIVE cheering from parents makes all the difference!
AYSO has something simlar on the back of coach's shirts. I love these signs. Simple. Direct. A reminder that the stakes are as small as the players. But here’s the thing — that sign is easier to nod at than live by.
When the Call Doesn't Go Your Way
It’s natural to feel the heat rise when the ump calls a strike that looked more like it was headed for the snack bar. I’ve been there. But the lesson our kids take away in that moment isn’t about the strike zone. It’s about how we handle disappointment.
Cheering is easy when the team is up by ten. The real work is being the parent who claps after a tough inning or reminds their kid that the game isn’t just about winning, but showing up, trying hard, and learning to shake things off.
Being a great baseball parent goes beyond cheering—it’s about embracing the ups and downs. Here’s why baseball pants were made to get dirty (and why that’s okay).
Let the Coaches Coach
Most coaches and umpires I know (myself included) are doing their best with whatever time they can squeeze out of work and family life. If we make a questionable call, believe me, we know it. Shouting from the stands only adds noise to an already chaotic field.
Your voice should be the one that rises when your kid makes contact after striking out three times or lays down a bunt for the first time. Let your cheers ring loud when they’re hustling, not just hitting homers.
What They See in You
At the end of the day, little league is about more than baseball. It’s about showing kids how to handle mistakes, how to treat people with respect, and how to find joy in the game. Your actions in the stands shape those lessons.
So next time the game’s on the line, remember to be the parent they’ll remember for all the right reasons. And they will remember, they always do.
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