Monday, June 10, 2013

Tee Ball Lessons


My four-year-old is on his first tee ball team this year. It has been fun (and sometimes painful) to watch him and his teammates learn and grow throughout the season. And there is nothing cuter than little four and five-year-olds in uniforms. But overall, I think this season has taught me more than it has taught my son. 

My son did a great job hitting the ball, but the other team got him out on first base, which is a bummer because running the bases is his favorite part of the game. The first base coach told him he needed to go to the dugout on the other side of the field. Instead of going straight to the dugout, my boy decided he would run the bases anyway. LOL. No one seemed to mind waiting a few extra seconds for him to round second and third base before joining his teammates.

Lesson: Don't let rejection stop you or take the fun out of what you're doing.

On Thursday we had a double header to make up for a game that had been rained out. The second game lasted until almost 9pm. Do you know what it's like to be with a group of four-year-olds who are playing tee ball well past their bedtimes. We were quickly loosing control of the troops. There were fights. There were tears. Our poor coach spent most of his time trying to console crying children.

Lesson: Beware of burnout. It's hard to do your best when you're worn down. Build in healthy breaks when you can.

My son's team are the Bluejays. So when our uniforms didn't come in on time and we had to wear white t-shirts, he said they were the "Whitejays," and the team they played last week were the "Greenjays." ;) They're a great group of kids. Sometimes they tackle their fellow teammates trying to get the ball, but for the most part they make an excellent team. When my little guy got upset on the field, it was another little boy who went over and checked on him.

Lesson: Surround yourself with people who will cheer you on. Also, make sure you're supporting those around you. 

Did you play sports as a kid? 

*Today's post idea was dreamed up by the lovely Jessica Patch. Thanks, Jessica!


9 comments:

  1. I see a lot of correlations between the sports I played as a kid and the writing life for me now. Following my own path probably being the biggest.

    So cute--yesterday I finally walked my girls to watch part of a tee ball game that's really close to our house. I felt like I entered boy world for a glimpse of time.

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    1. I'm learning every day what it means to have a little boy. It's fun...and exhausting. :)

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  2. I like the advice about rejection. A friend had me pull an affirmation from a pack of cards. The card I chose was Play. My focus is to make everything I do like play.

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    1. I love that. I'm sure readers can tell when my writing feels more like play than work.

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  3. I tried softball, basketball and volleyball. :) Stuck with volleyball the longest. :)

    These are great lessons, too, Julie. Especially that beware of burnout one. Oy vey. :)

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    1. I played sports up until high school. I was terrible at all of them. LOL.

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  4. Ha! I love that your son wanted to run the bases. LOL

    Yes! Awesome lessons for sure. NO, I didn't play sports in school, but wish I had.

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  5. I love he called them all "jays" of some color! Too cute! I tried several sports but I never liked any of them. lol

    I preferred reading and theater.

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  6. I love all of these take away lessons, Julie. Thanks so much for sharing them.

    I was never into organized group sports, but we were the house in the neighborhood where kids came to play a game of kickball, or badminton, or good ole tag.

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