Parenting Young Athletes the Ripken Way: Ensuring the Best Experience for Your Kids in Any Sport Hardcover - 2006

by Ripken, Cal, Jr

Unparalleled advice for parents of young athletes, from father and beloved future Hall of Famer, Cal Ripken.

Few athletes embody sportsmanship and class as perfectly as Cal Ripken, Jr. Since he retired from baseball in 2001, Ripken has devoted his time to coaching kids, including his own two children. His daughter, Rachel, plays basketball; his son, Ryan, plays baseball. The Babe Ruth League even changed the name of its largest division (more than 700,000 five-to-twelveyear-olds) from Bambino Baseball to Cal Ripken Baseball in 1991. But Ripken is troubled by what he sees in youth sports: a competitive intensity that removes the element of fun from playing. Drawing from his experiences as a father, a player, and a coach to his charges at Ripken Baseball, the legend offers his insights and advice in Parenting Young Baseball Players the Ripken Way, including:
á How an overemphasis on winning can harm your child's game
á Why it's counterproductive to correct your child's technique during a game
á Mistakes well-meaning parents can make
á A complete guide to the structure of youth baseball leagues
á How Ripken's techniques can be applied to other sports
á And much more

Showcasing his proven philosophy (keep it simple, explain the 'why,' celebrate the individual, and make it fun!), Cal Ripken has created a plan that will delight baseball lovers for generations to come.