Posted by: Torque (roscoethewestie@comcast.net) on Mon Apr 27 19:07:11 2009

> My 4-year old is playing baseball for the first time. He started out really well, better than what we expected. He said he loved to bat but hated the glove thing. We discussed that you had to do both to play baseball. He had a wonderful first game and got on everytime. The next 2 practices and next game, he screamed and cried about batting. We did not make him bat at practice and had to take an out at the game. I dont know what changed from one week to the next. All that he says is he doesnt want to get out and he doesnt know how to bat. We know that he knows how but how do we get his confindence back up so he start playing ball before the next game or do we just let him quit. He says he want to quit at the time of batting but later say no he wants to play. What do I do?

The coaches really need to get together before the game and agree that his failure to bat not count as an out. The rules really aren't important compared to his fear of getting out. If he wants to bat then let him bat if not then just let him play in the field. Who knows, he may have a 100 mph fastball one day and then who needs a silly bat. I really think he is too young to understand the baseball is a game of failure speech where good hitters are only succesful 30% of the time. Kids are funny and seem to need a balance between firmness and freedom. Maybe it would be good for him to see mom or dad get out playing in the yard and see them laugh afterward. Let him get out too in the yard and maybe he will see that this is all part of the game.