Travel ball coach: 5 tips for new club baseball parents

Parents should support their team without criticizing umpires or coaches. (Kyle Prudhomme/NEBJ)

Each year, thousands of players begin their first experience into travel baseball, but the new experiences aren’t just limited to the players. It can be just as educational for new parents in the space. 

Here are a few tips to have a great experience as a new travel baseball parent.

Don’t hover

Whether it’s at indoor winter practices or approaching the dugout during a game, keep your distance. As a coach, there is nothing worse than a parent who wants to be in the action on the sidelines when trying to keep your players engaged. It can change the way that a coach approaches practices if he or she has to have an audience of parents hanging over his or her shoulder. Further, if your kid needs you, tell them to come and find you where you are sitting. Coming over to the dugout with mid-game pointers is a no-no. The dugout is a sacred place. Stay away.

Don’t yell at the umpires

Stop. 

Period. 

In a society where everyone has a camera (and opinion), being an umpire is increasingly difficult. It’s the biggest problem in youth sports, and each parent needs to take it upon themselves to change the way people treat umpires. 

One parent can change the whole day at the field by acting like an idiot. Don’t be that parent.

Ride the wave

There are going to be some tough weekends.

The first weekend can sometimes be the hardest for many parents. After a winter in which you likely receive only positive reports on development from your child, it can be a tough pill to swallow to see them struggle out of the gates.

News flash: Baseball is hard! They are going to struggle.

Know that your children are never as good as you think they are, and never as bad as you think they are.

Invest in your experience

You’re going to be at the field a lot! Treat yourself. Buy a nice chair, buy a nice travel cooler. Travel in style!

It’s worth it when you are at a random field for six hours, sometimes twice a weekend. Find something that makes the experience better for you as it’ll only help your child.

The 24-hour rule

This might be the most important tip I can give any parent in travel baseball. 

It’s a long season. There are going to be highs and lows, conflict, sometimes tears. There will likely be a time when you feel the need to reach out to your coach or program director about playing time, player handling, substitutions, etc.

Always give it 24 hours after a game before contacting your program representative. Stay away from immediate social media rants. No one wins in those situations. 

But if you do anything, give it a day, let the emotions come and go, and then articulate your concerns. It’ll be very much appreciated by the recipient. 

Mondays can be the most painful days for travel baseball coaches and directors as there will inevitably be concerns raised from the weekend. Take the emotion out of it by allowing yourself to cool off.

These are a few tips to help get you as a parent off to a fast start. You’ll be an expert in no time. 

The ultimate goal is for your child to continue to develop and be as excited as possible to do it again the following year. A big part of your child’s experience is a reflection of their parents’ experiences. 

Follow these tips and lay the foundation for your child to have a great start to a travel baseball career.