AIC Base Kids Camps

 Our team runs kids camps for all ages spanning from tee ball to thirteen year old's towards the end of the summer and throughout the winter. In these camps we teach kids the basic fundamentals of the game, proper form, as well as to keep the game fun. We do so through drill work, competition, and constant moving around as they are all high energy and lose interest if they stand around for long periods of time. We use about four different stations and have the kids constantly rotating and trying new things because they are at the age where they do not quite have an exact position yet. This helps them in realizing their potential and where they would best fit in the future on the field.

When kids are younger in most sports, especially baseball, we find that parents are overly involved and can put a lot of pressure on the kids to perform. This is when the game starts to become more of a job rather than a sport. It causes them to lose interest and be overly hard on themselves. In a game of failure, we have to find ways for the kids to not take it too seriously, and understand that failure is just a part of it. Instilling that mindset in them at a younger age will aid them in improvement and overall enjoyment of the game in the long run. We have to put an emphasis on enjoyment, because as the kids get older the game will get more serious. But at the end of the day it is still a children's game, and the field should be an escape to have fun and not worry about the stresses of life. What do you do to escape and find enjoyment? What kind of hobbies and what type of mindset do you think could help these kids with overall personal growth in the long-term?

Below are links to the effects of parental involvement on children in baseball:

Little League Parent Syndrome: How baseball parents can kill fun. (coachandplaybaseball.com)

Parental Pressure Takes a Toll on Young Athletes | Psychology Today

Experts warn parents about recent uptick in youth baseball injuries - ABC News (go.com)

Why Year-Round Baseball Is A Really Bad Idea For Kids | I Love to Watch You Play

Here are some videos on the effects of parents in baseball and a funny video on parental stereotypes:

Coaching Advice A Must Watch for All Parents whose Kids Play Sports! - YouTube

Baseball Parent Stereotypes - (Things Baseball Parents Say) - YouTube

190619_wn_pilgrim__hpMain_16x9_992.jpg (992×558) (abcnews.com)

20060721-063321-pic-738316284_5750018_ver1.0_640_480.jpg (640×452) (wp.com)

130619_SN_BaseballDad.jpg.CROP.cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg.jpg (568×379) (slate.com)

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