Play Ball: Baseball lingo for gamer moms

I have to agree with you Shawn about making sure the teammates are supporting each other. My son played tball last year and this is his first year playing baseball. The team he was put on are full of kids that know each other but my son knew none of them. The first couple of practices' the kids were pretty mean with him being a "newbie" and all.. I just hope it gets better for him and they become a team.

The most important rule in baseball? Why, The Ten Run Rule: http://thedamedomain.blogspot.com/2008/03/springing-into-sports.html

My son's dream is to join a football team. However, he request to be placed in a baseball team as an after school activity. The first two seasons he had was really bummed out because he did not know how to play. I constantly reminded him that it's about having fun and putting effort in the game (as in anything else in life). Finally, this third season he has really put his heart into the game. He is playing pitcher and catcher position. He is extremely excited and proud of himself, just as I am for him. Support, encouragement, lots of patience and lots of love has help my son find the passion for the GAME!

Another one to encourage your child to watch the pitches: Pick one you like and take it for a ride! Picking a fun nickname for all of the players and then calling it out with MUCH enthusiasm and support as they are at bat can also help them to loosen up. Just remember, the absolute worst thing you can do after the age of 7 is to make a move or a sound when your child is hurt in the game. Unless it is serious, let the coaches deal with it. To boys especially, enduring an injury in the game is uber-cool , mom coddling you in front of everyone is NOT!

Here's some more lingo for us baseball moms:

Uggggh: As in "Uggggh, it's only the fourth inning." You will hear this during those particularly long games when kid after kid is swinging foul balls, it's cold out and it's starting to drizzle, but not enough to call the game.

Heads up!: That means one of those foul balls is headed toward your noggin.

Got a fifty?: That's when it's your team to treat the team to celebratory ice cream.

So hear you on the baseball family! We are too -- and love to watch our Home Team any chance we get. Luckily, all their games are on TV. Helps to be a Braves fan!

Unfortunately, when my oldest broke his arm 3 weeks ago, that landed him on the DL for the entire season! He bummed bad!

But, there's always next year.

My husband coached our two sons, sixteen months apart, for nine years. They kept progressing to All-Star teams at each stage until they played on OPPOSING college teams and were named to the All-New England Team. Finally, in June, 1992, they both signed with the Boston Red Sox within ten days of each other. The roller-coaster ride lasted seven years, till our second son was released from "AAA" (highest level below the majors)in 1999. My journals have become a memoir currently seeking publication - "Minor League Memoirs: A Mother's Journey through the Red Sox Farm Teams." The KIDS will tell you when they don't want to play all day, every day; but until then, be supportive and HAVE FUN with them! When it is a job, there will be eight others to replace each of them.

My3Sons -- One person that's really instrumental in making the kids feel welcomed and getting them to work as a team is...the coach:) My son didn't know many kids on his team but the coach(es) have really succeeded in evening the terms of the practice, helping the kids get to know each other.

A great coach will focus on making sure it's all about having fun at the t-ball stage while they are learning the game.

Haha, isn't baseball wonderful. Our son now 13 and on his school baseball and travel ball team started when he was 8 and he loves it still. Keep it fun, but make sure he understands how important it is to support his teammates even when things aren't looking good for them or the team. I remember my son was up to bat and the bases were full the score was 9-5 and they were down... he knew at 9 then that his hit could bring them back to have a chance to win. He wanted it so bad he swung at one above his head and then down to his knee and then he swung a little too slow at one right down the middle and that was it, 3 strikes, you're out! He walked back to the dugout when tears streaming down his face because he let his team down. But his team patted him up and said, "Good try Will" and I know that made him feel a little better but honestly not much I think.

Base Hit is all we need! - To encourage them to not focus on hitting it out of the park but just to hit it!

Full Count - Having 2 strikes and 3 balls and letting the batter know that the next pitch could be the last pitch so make it count!

Straighten it out! - To encourage them to make those foul balls FAIR

Drive it baby, drive it! - Just a fun word to get them pumped up as they approach the plate to bat.

We have five children (ages 13, 12, 10 (2 of them) and almost 2). Three boys play baseball and one girl plays fast pitch softball. All of them are on different teams this year and my daughter's games are held at a separate field 10 minutes away from the boys. We have had some nights of heres and theres but we love it! I have been keeping the books for all of our children for about 6 years now. As they grow older they will have their own book of their season for each year they played ball to look back on and most of the time I keep up with their team's batting averages as well.