The warm weather is finally here! Hopefully, you find some time to stop and smell the tulips and daffodils; but if you’re a taxi-mom like me, shuttling your children to and from baseball and softball practice this spring; keep in mind they are learning much more than just the skills and knowledge of the games of baseball and softball.
10 Things Kids Learn Playing Baseball
- Teamwork – working well with others.
- Relationship building – forming a small community that cares for one another.
- Goal setting – both team goals (a win) & personal goals (better batting average)
- To be adaptable – playing different positions; working with different players and coaches each year.
- Risk taking in a safe environment – you can’t steal second base and keep one foot on first!
- Constructive after school activity
“I’m convinced that every boy in his heart would rather steal second base than an automobile”
Tom Clark
- Initiative – do more than the minimum that’s required of them.
- Integrity – making a commitment to your teammates and following through.
- Supporting and encouraging others by cheering for your teammates – remember: blowing out someone else’s candle doesn’t make yours burn any brighter.
- Hard work pays off-
“The more I practice, the luckier I get.”
Jerry Barber
Difference between Little League & Community Baseball
Ever wonder what the difference is between little league and community baseball programs? Both have their advantages. Little League is an official license section of Little League of America, your organization pays charter fees each year to be part of it, and winning teams will have the chance to compete in the Little League World Series.
Community baseball and softball programs are just that—usually volunteer-based non-profit organizations focusing on playing against kids in the community. The rules are generally more relaxed, meaning people who live in unincorporated areas can play. Or you can sign up to play in grandma’s city because she has the kids after school, instead of playing for only one little league option based on official city borders.
I think the best place in Lake County to play baseball and softball is Mundelein Baseball and Softball Association (MBSA). Two years ago, Mundelein voted not to renew the Little League Charter and instead become a community-based baseball program. MBSA built Their Red Monster Field in 2013, which is a tribute to past president Mike Jones and a play on Fenway’s Green Monster in Boston. Any child that hits a home run over the Red Monster Fence earns a t-shirt. And yes, I’ll admit that I’m biased because I’ve been volunteering on their board of directors as their marketing director and secretary for the last three years… but check it out or give a shout-out to your favorite sports program or coach down below! Be safe and have fun out there!
Cheryl is an aspiring writer from Mundelein. You can now follow her on her author journey on Amazon.
Get a copy of her first book, Letter’s to my Children, available on Kindle now.
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