The Value of you as Parents
We are excited to be kicking off our 8th year of M-Pact this spring. We have grown each year in our desire to make this mission better each and every year. We wanted to share something a little unique this season with a letter dedicated to you, the parents.
I am a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association. A few months ago they held a Youth Baseball Round Table with people involved in various levels of Youth Baseball. I listened in as a participant. After two hours of listening to coaches talk, I realized Parents were the biggest topic. I had a few issues with things said and I shared my thoughts with them and introduced them to our Parent Handbook. Long story short, they want to hear more from our processes here at M-Pact.
Things brought up on that call:
"Parents are a roadblock" - M-Pact opinion: False, parents are the bridge between you and being able to have an impact on the player. If parents are part of the process, your player can reach their full potential.
"Parents need to drop their kids off at practice and walk away" - M-Pact opinion: False, we want parents to see what we practice, how we operate, and hear the things being asked of their player. If we as coaches are running a quality practice that is challenging the player, there will be failure. If a kid experiences failure, who do they usually go to? Parents. Parents need to see what is being taught, and where the struggle is.
"If you get a bought in parent, the sky is the limit for that kid" - M-Pact Opinion: True! M-Pact would not be where we are without some amazing parents. We have had parents help build the fields, run fundraisers, and just about any other thing asked of them. Parents have a difficult task of wanting the best for your player while also helping them deal with disappointment this sport brings. It's a tough job but we have done our best to make this a place that is a champion of Parents and the value you bring.
2025 Parental Outlook
We spent the last year putting together stacks of information to help our players develop. For 2025, our coaches are working through one of the best Indoor training packages we have ever put together. It has been years in the making. We have written a book containing practice plans for outside broken down by age, team size, practice goal, even down to speed and agility suggestions.
Why does that apply to you as a parent? We can have the best practices and training in the state but what a player does off the field on their own time is truly what helps them develop. This is why we are encouraging parents to watch practices and see what we go through and ideas we are sharing with them to work on. Our Winter Sessions we held were loaded with things to use at home.
When my son was 9, he decided he wanted to be a switch hitter. No clue why! We made a deal. 1. He had to give it a few seasons before giving up. It was going to be tough. 2. I will not come ask you to practice. If you want to practice or work on it, you have to ask me. If you do ask, I will NEVER say no!
Nine years later, he is still switch hitting. That agreement has came back to haunt me at 10pm when he ask if we can go hit so he can work through some things before the game the next day. Sure it brings some late nights but it's moments you will never be able to replace.
I am sharing this so we can work together to help your player fall in love with a process of improving at something, whatever that might be. What I didn't realize back when I made that deal with my son, I gave him the power and ownership of his own development. Honestly, I just got tired of asking him to practice baseball! You will be surprised what buying your player some tennis balls and telling them they can throw them off a wall and catch them bare handed can do!
Our goal this year is to also provide suggestions for things you can do at home to help your player. Playing catch with them every few days is a game changer. We hope to provide you with ideas to put time into your player.
New Parent Handbook
We made a few changes to the handbook for 2025. It hasn't been updated since 2022 so it was time. Your coaches will be sharing that with you in your GroupMe's and it is also currently in the Parent Program on our site and in the app through Spaces by Wix.
Closing
We don't ever want our parents to feel like a roadblock. We are all here for the same mission and goals. We all want the best for our players. Let's pull on the same rope together!
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