What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playing SB

[Admin]

What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playing SB.

We read these words and quotes all the time in the forum.

Quotes we read, when reading topic or thread about Coaching Girls Fastpitch Softball.

Coaches should be Role Models for the girls.

Coaches should teach their Girl Softball players appropriate behaviours.

Coaches should teach life lessons to his/her players.

Words we read, inside thread and post when talking about girls Fastpitch Softball.

Values, Morals, Lessons, Sportsmanship and Ethics.

Question(s) to the forum?

Coaches what do you think about the above quotes and words?

Do you believe you have a responsibility to teach the above quotes and words?

Parents your turn.

When you say Coaches should be teaching life lessons what do you mean?

What quotes or words from above, do you think are the most important when it involves your daughter?

Let's see if the Parents and Coaches can pull this off!

Let's keep this Thread and your reply on topic.

 

[wow]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

This is a great thread and conversation to have. Too many times coach's and parents get caught up in teaching the "game" when in fact the paralleling "life lessons" are just as important. For example. The drama on a the team. How do we teach the girls to deal with those who we don't get necessarily get a long with? This is gonna happen their whole life, what a great time to learn how to deal with conflict and adversity. How about that jerk of a coach? We have all had and seen them but what lessons to we teach when parents pull a kid mid season? Of course everyone should be teaching teamwork, dedication, hard work and self investment. That is the price of admission to travel ball. I think there are much more social lessons, which are here everyday!

 

[Blue Ice]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

Great topic but...If my kids have to learn social value from a coach then I didn't do my Job as a DAD.

 

[lewam3]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

There will always be someone faster and stronger out there, you just need to be better than them when you play.

 

[daboss]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

Great topic but...If my kids have to learn social value from a coach then I didn't do my Job as a DAD.

While coaches of select sports programs need to be extremely aware of their impact on the kids and live by example a roll model life, the ultimate responsibility is with the parents. Many need to step up their game in my opinion. we shouldn't be required to replace such a hero. If life were only that easy.

 

[wow]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

Great topic but...If my kids have to learn social value from a coach then I didn't do my Job as a DAD.

True... BUT I am sure your kid listens to EVERTHING you say.. Heck I am just a ATM machine at this point. I would like a coach who echo's those same messages on the field. Maybe, just maybe, they will see that I am not crazy and actually know something!

 

[Blue Ice]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

True... BUT I am sure your kid listens to EVERTHING you say.. Heck I am just a ATM machine at this point. I would like a coach who echo's those same messages on the field. Maybe, just maybe, they will see that I am not crazy and actually know something!

You might be surprised how much my kids listen to what I say. Obviously I can't cover every subject but to pick a coach to be my kids role model is irresponsible. If it turns out my kids coaches are a good citizen while coaching good softball or any other sport...that would be awesome. Bottom line, my kids will develop their core value from me and my wife.

 

[Blue Ice]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

Unless coach is Hitter23... After all he is "the most interesting man"

 

[HITTER23]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

LOL !! Yet another epic thread that died a very untimely death.

 

[coachjwb]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

My DD learned a ton about being part of a team, being a leader, dealing with adversity, and how to win and lose with class and sportsmanship.

As far as coaches, go, of course they shouldn't replace parents as role models but, let's face it, there are some kids playing who don't have parents who are very good role models and, at a minimum, a good coach should help reinforce a lot of the same values that parents teach.

 

[freddieball]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

My daughter has learned a bunch also from travel softball. She has gained self confidence the most. She has also opened up socially and have met friends that will always be friends now reguardless of where they live and who they play for.

 

[sprat22]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

To always believe in yourself, even when others don't see it. You can only control your actions and not the actions of others. But most of all to always be yourself.

 

[Balldiddly]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

DD has learned that at times life isn't fair… sometimes you just gotta suck it up and move on. She's learned responsibility (in that you'll get out of it what you put in), communication skills (whether coaches or team mates), independence (her game/gear not ours) and the concept of team (having each others backs). All can be applied to everyday life and are valuable in becoming a contributing member of society.

 

[CARDS]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

Sport by nature is a avenue for learning and since the coach of a youth sports team is a person of influence (like a teacher) through sport they can reinforce the family values taught in the home as Blue Ice and some others stated.

Here is a short list of some areas that can be practiced with sport that are also found in most homes: following expectations / time management, goal setting, team work, revision of work to improve quality / improve practice habits, self critiquing or being able to deal with constructive criticism, overcoming adversity, leadership, respect of others as well as themselves, avoiding the pitfall that giving "true minimum effort" is acceptable. These are all areas that can be reinforced through athletics and in some cases through sport it is easier for kids to make the connection between what happens in the home and the field.

 

[Fairman]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

I would echo CARDS list and add that SB teaches our dd's two very important lessons.

The first is risk taking, dealing with abject failure, and paying the price of success. The second is letting go of the past and understanding being in the moment. It's this pitch, this swing not yesterday's and not tomorrow's.

These are lessons boys learn as a matter of course. We protect our dd's from failure and then expect them to excel in a man's world as adults. My two dd's have a deep well of this type of experience (risk/failure/striving) that they got from SB that is showing up in their adult life.

 

[Blue Ice]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

My kids learned...this is a game. Nothing more, nothing less. They learned, they can compete with anyone and like anything else if they work at this game...it can open doors.

It's fun, hard, time consuming and most of all their Dad is vicariously living off of them.

 

[travelinmom]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

DD has learned to respect those in authority, even if she doesn't always agree with them. She has learned to advocate for herself and seek/accept constructive criticism. She has stepped up her leadership and mentoring skills, very important since she talks about coaching "some day". Mostly DD has learned that team is family, you may not always like everyone but each person plays an important part in making the whole thing happen.

 

[grandpaviper]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

I have had the opportunity to coach with and against some fine men/women as coaches. That being said I have also had the misfortune to coach with and against some that were not so fine. I am sure most who have posted here can probably say the same thing. My point is, teaching is absolutely something coaches do. It does not necessarily follow that everything they teach, either by word or behavior, is good. I think we would all agree, We are a sports crazy country. Like it or not Sport and sports figures are conduits for both good and bad behavior. As parents and as a grandparent in my case, it is up to us to extract the life lessons reflected in sport, both positive and negative and teach our children.

 

[Westler33]

Re: What are the social values and life lessons your daughters/players learned playin

My dd is learning commitment hard work and never give up on your goals. These are some of what we are trying to teach her through softball right now more to come as she gets older.