Those instructions to that 10-year-old can include tips on shifting his weight, opening his stance or gripping the bat. And if the player is unfortunate enough to be a pitcher, they get a double dose of dad.
When our son was playing Little League just a few years ago, I recall more than one dad who got up when his kid came to bat and stood behind the backstop talking to him before, during and after every pitch.
I’m not sure what it is about these Little League dads that causes them to lose any sense of propriety and fun. It may be that they are trying to live a new Little League life through their kid, or it could be that they have this controlling nature — the desire to make sure everything goes just the way they want all the time.
Whatever it is, it can often ruin what is otherwise one of the great experiences of youth.
Dads who cheer are fine. Dads who yell instructions should stop, if for no other reason than it could interfere with some instructions the team’s manager or coaches have given. Dad may be telling junior to loosen his grip on the bat while the coaches are telling him to tighten it.
But more important is their complete lack of understanding of what is going on in the player’s head while he is at the plate or on the pitcher’s mound.
Because they have forgotten, I will remind them. Dads, when your Little Leaguer is hitting, he is first thinking, “Cool! I get to hit!” Then he’s thinking, “I hope I don’t screw up!”
And here is what he is not thinking: “I sure hope my dad yells some instructions to me while I’m up here so I can become a better player.”
