Summer Break 2023: Tips for Parents and Coaches

The summer break takes place during the “big holiday.” The KNBSB doesn’t schedule any games during this time. Sometimes, there’s still a game on a weekend right at the start or end of the break. Good luck rounding up enough players for that!

As we write this post, we’re right in the middle of the summer break. The perfect time to line up all the tips and tricks for you.

Give parents, kids, and yourself some peace of mind

No matter how enthusiastic and passionate you are, it's good to take a break every now and then. This year, we wanted to keep training, for example, because our coaching staff was available. All players who wanted to join were welcome—after all, summer on the field is just great, right? And the kids don’t go on vacation every single week of those six weeks, do they? In practice, it quickly became clear that we could expect very few kids at training sessions. Lack of motivation? Not at all! Many were on vacation, at a youth camp, staying over at a friend’s, or out for the day. These days, kids have activities planned almost every day during the six weeks of vacation. Plus, there are kids with divorced parents who sometimes spend part of the holiday with dad and the other part with mom. And what turned out? Even their own home front thought it was a bit odd if we kept training nonstop:

Yeah, you’re working that Wednesday, but when I’m lying on the beach with the kids, on my day off, I’m definitely not watching the clock so we have to head home early just because you insist on extra training...

So goes the honest reply from Reinier’s wife

And she was absolutely right. Give everyone the time to do their own thing. It’s not on you, coach

Summer Youth Camp

Spending a whole week doing your favorite sport and making new friends? Sign me up! Over the past few years, we've noticed that youth baseball and softball camps during summer vacation are becoming more and more popular. Just Google it, ask around, or check out some Facebook groups, and you’ll find plenty. As a coach, it’s great to share these opportunities with your players and their parents too. Encourage it—even better if you go together! It’s way less intimidating when you know someone from your own team will be there. Sure, there’s a cost involved, but compared to a horse camp or sailing camp, it’s pretty reasonable, at least from what we’ve seen. It’ll be an amazing experience for the kids, and they’ll definitely level up their game.

To the KNBSB, if you're reading this: a page on your website around April/May featuring all the youth baseball and softball initiatives happening across the Netherlands during the summer would be a huge help! Something that parents can easily get excited about and coaches can share effortlessly.

Keep the momentum going

As a coach, it’s a good idea to give the kids some clarity about when you’ll see each other again. You can also send them off with a little something to work on during the break. For example, give each of them an (old) ball. Write something fun on it and challenge them to make sure they bring their ball and glove along on vacation. “Try to practice so much that when you pack the ball back in your bag after the holiday, you can no longer read the writing.”

Sometimes parents just need a little extra nudge to realize that besides badminton at the campsite, throwing the ball back and forth—or even a quick game—can be a great option too.

Extra free tip: still have some old gloves lying around? Bring them along! It makes it way more fun and easier to get your buddies involved at the campsite (or even just nearby). If you don’t need that old glove after a great week, consider giving it as a gift—who knows, you might have sparked someone’s love for this awesome sport. And let’s be honest, a gift like that makes a pretty cool keepsake. Just remember to write your name on it!

Take Your Time

In the hustle and bustle of a regular week, sometimes you just can’t get to everything. Got a little extra time on your hands?

For Coaches

• Check your gear. Time to take a quick look at the straps on the catcher's gear. Is the tape on your bats still holding up?
• How are we doing with our members? Have we picked up any new players along the way? Is the gear count still accurate? And that power hitter—should we order an extra bat for them?
• Have you informed the parent about the upcoming games?
• Scoreboard and paperwork all set?
• “When does the first practice start again?” Beat the parents to this legit question, and you’re a pro in our book.
• The second half of the season is a great time to get a few things in order. Schedule that parent meeting, create a manifesto, or go over the uniform guidelines once again. Reinier and Wesley always say, “The power of repetition is the key to a winning team!”
• Share this page in the group chat

For Parents

• Perfect time to clear the family schedule with new practices and games lined up.
• Clothing all set and ready. Need a quick timeout?
• Stickers on the helmet? Gear all labeled?
• Glove and ball coming on vacation?
• Maybe it’s fun to meet up with that other parent and their kids in the park sometime—picnic, BBQ? Don’t forget the glove and ball!
• It’s glove maintenance time!

Listen to our podcast during the summer break!

Enjoyed the article? Did you find it helpful? Make sure to (yes, really!) listen to the podcast during your holiday for more fun stories and tips.

This post Summer Break 2023: Tips for Parents and Coaches originally appeared on Coach Ball.