How do You Create a Competitive Mindset for Your Child?

[billybarue]

When I made the jump from "little league" to the next step before High school and Legion Ball they moved me and another kid up a level (out of about 75 kids)and we were playing with kids two years older.
Not a big deal in high school Sophomore to Senior but it was a big deal 6th to 8th grade. All of a sudden pitching was faster and I went from an all star to playing a couple innings in right field. I remember not wanting to go to games at all and wanted to quit altogether.

Two things:

1) As you mentioned - quitting is not an option. My mother was most vocal about this and said I signed up and made a committment to a team and I was going whether I liked it or not. She could be a task master but framed this in terms of "my responsibility" had to be fulfilled - NO QUITTING.

2) I don't know if she did this, but I wouldn't be surprised, but one of the best players on the team took an interest. All these kids were much older and in the same classes, but it meant a lot to me for this one good player to take me under his wing and I finally came around. So if you can find a good player (or not) to befriend/help her out it might help. I don't understand the dynamics of girls athletics but in the end it has to be fun and she has to want to be out there with/for someone.

Made me a better player to move up like that, and I would have faltered if my Mom had let me quit. I loved baseball for my entire adolescent life. Got a few calls from some small colleges to play but I had other plans than the schools that called.

.02