Be a Pro

Now that youth baseball season is in full swing, I’ve been seeing clips from games all across the country. And honestly, some of them make you stop and ask, what’s going on here?

You see parents screaming at umpires, coaches getting ejected, people cursing across the field over a 9U baseball game. Listen, I grew up around professional baseball. I’ve been in dugouts since I was 11 years old. I’ve seen heated arguments, ejections, and emotional moments at the highest levels of the game. That’s part of professional sports sometimes.

But when grown adults are acting like that at youth games, it misses the entire point.

Too often, the pressure at youth sporting events has less to do with the kids and more to do with the adults. Some parents and coaches get so emotionally wrapped up in winning because their self-worth becomes attached to their child’s performance. For some, it’s an attempt to relive their own glory days. For others, it’s trying to live through their son or daughter.

Kids can feel that pressure.

And the sad part is that it can take the joy out of the game.

One thing I’ve learned from being around professional athletes for so many years is that the best players usually aren’t the ones putting the most pressure on themselves or everyone around them. In fact, almost every pro I talk to says the same thing: keep the game fun. Let kids enjoy it. Remove the unnecessary pressure.

The ballpark should be a place where kids build confidence, friendships, resilience, and memories. It should not become a stage for adults to lose control or chase validation.

Young athletes are always watching. They learn from the behavior of the adults around them. If parents and coaches want to develop better athletes, they also need to model better character. Be respectful. Show composure. Encourage effort. Teach accountability without humiliation.

Be a pro.

Not because the kids are professionals, but because they deserve mature role models who understand what youth sports are really about.

At the end of the day, most kids won’t remember the score of a random game years from now. But they will remember how the adults around them made them feel.

Thank you for checking out this edition of the Big League Perspective Newsletter! Be sure to share with a friend, teammate, or kid who may benefit! In the meantime, be sure to connect on social media @billythebatboy. 🙌