2009 Baseball Tryouts
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Aidan tried out for Little League Baseball yesterday. Last year, he played t-ball, so try outs were not necessary. This year, though, we felt he was ready for coach-pitch. I started working with him two weeks ago to help him get ready, and I think it paid off. I sometimes wonder if he's playing because of me, because I want him to play. But then he initiates the conversations, asks me to play ball with him, and generally seems to enjoy playing, and I can begin to put those fears at ease. One thing he does not handle well, though, is anticipation and pressure. When we got to the field, there were mainly older kids who were trying out for the upper divisions. This was very intimidating for him, especially when he saw the pitching machine on the mound of the big field. Those fears subsided slightly when we went to the smaller field, with a dad soft tossing to the kids (NTTAWWT). But he was still nervous, saying, "I want to go home. I don't think I can do this." That was when I had to evaluate what I wanted versus what he wanted. I decided to remind him of how good he had done and encourage him to be brave. He took that advice very well, and went out there. You can tell from the video that he did a great job. I hope I can keep in mind what he really wants as he continues to play ball and conquer his fears.
