Parent Support
Parent support during both games and practices is critically important to the success of the league. Be supportive of the team by ensuring your child attends each practice on-time. Be a positive role model during games, whether you are a manager, an assistant coach, or simply a spectator. Finally, please keep the following in mind:
- Always be positive and enthusiastic.
- Show your child positive reinforcement.
- Observe practices and games to learn proper techniques to practice with your child.
- Encourage your child toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game.
- Teach your child to always play by the rules.
- Teach your child that hard work and an honest effort are often more important than a victory.
- Applaud good plays by your team and by members of the opposing team.
- Let the managers and coaches do the coaching.
- Let an umpire be the umpire.
Recognize that the umpire is the closest to the play and that each umpire will "call them as they see them". The umpire is often a volunteer parent who has assumed a difficult, but necessary, role.
The Role of the Parent
Parents play a very important role in helping to shape a positive experience for players, coaches, umpires, and other parents! To help you understand the key role parents play in our Watsonville American Little League, the following excerpt was taken from the Official Regulations and Playing Rules of Little League Baseball.
"The parents of millions of Little Leaguers, combined with their youngsters, league officials, umpires, managers, coaches, auxiliary members and countless volunteer agencies including sponsors, represent an imposing cross section of this nation.
Parents should accept the fact that they must shoulder responsibility and take initiative to make the local program successful. Little League is not a club in which membership implies baby-sitting benefits and entertainment privileges for your children.
Practically speaking, Little League is an adult, volunteer work project constructed, supervised and assisted by parents who desire to make its benefits extend to their children.
Each parent should join in the total effort. There is a place and a job to do for all. The burden of operating the League should not fall on a few. The parent who shirks this responsibility cannot, in turn, expect others to assume the burden."
