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Parenting Young Athletes the Ripken Way: Ensuring the Best Experience for Your Kids in Any Sport
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:
• How an overemphasis on winning can harm your child’s game
• Why it’s counterproductive to correct your child’s technique during a game
• Mistakes well-meaning parents can make
• A complete guide to the structure of youth baseball leagues
• How Ripken’s techniques can be applied to other sports
• 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.
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:
• How an overemphasis on winning can harm your child’s game
• Why it’s counterproductive to correct your child’s technique during a game
• Mistakes well-meaning parents can make
• A complete guide to the structure of youth baseball leagues
• How Ripken’s techniques can be applied to other sports
• 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.
- GenresNonfictionSports
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2006
2 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Cal Ripken Jr.
38 books31 followersCal Ripken, Jr. was a shortstop and third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles for his entire career (1981-2001). Nicknamed “The Iron Man” for his relentless work ethic and reliability on the field, Ripken is most remembered for playing a record 2,632 straight games over 17 seasons. He was a 19-time All Star and is considered to be one of the best shortstops professional baseball has ever seen. In 2007 he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Since his retirement, Ripken has worked as President and CEO of Ripken Baseball, Inc. to nurture the love of baseball in young children from a grassroots level.
Since his retirement, Ripken has worked as President and CEO of Ripken Baseball, Inc. to nurture the love of baseball in young children from a grassroots level.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 28, 2010
I read this after my son's debut at T-ball. He's a natural athlete, and I wanted some advice on balancing his love of, and success at, sports with other aspects of his development. Basically, everything I read here is something I already knew, but it is really nice to have the assurance that I am doing the right thing.
April 26, 2025
After exposing your child to a variety of activities when they are young, follow their lead as to how involved they want to be and follow their passion.
As other reviewers have stated, no information here was groundbreaking but was reassuring that not taking youth sports so seriously is a reasonable and usually better approach for kids.
While a very easy read, I’m not sure it required a whole book of its own. I read other books in the “Ripken Way” series that were much more practical.
As other reviewers have stated, no information here was groundbreaking but was reassuring that not taking youth sports so seriously is a reasonable and usually better approach for kids.
While a very easy read, I’m not sure it required a whole book of its own. I read other books in the “Ripken Way” series that were much more practical.
November 7, 2017
Good advice, but all stuff I already know.
April 10, 2010
Kids today, just like when we were kids, will find their own way in sports. Don't push the kids, just let them have fun. If they are particularly motivated in a sport, they will naturally spend more time honing their skills in that sport and will have already identified what area they need to improve fix the part of their game they feel needs help.
Overcoming adversity is a major theme of this book and a good example is of Michael Jordan not making the high school team at age fifteen. Instead of complaining, Jordan asked the coach what he needed to work on to make the team the next season; then he worked his tail off because he was following his lifelong passion and channeled his frustration into a positive action.
Kids develop at their own rate and often an improvement in skills and coordination is related to a growth spurt. Don't compare your kids to anyone else's - they do not have to "keep up" and that only encourages an emphasis on winning instead of player development and a lifelong love of sports and being active for the sake of enjoyment.
One of the most important attributes a sports parent must have is patience. Kids need lots of time to develop their skills and they need lots of time to master them while their body is in the process of changing and maturing. It's important to give solid praise about their specific skills that are their personal highlights as the children's development really benefits from lots of encouragement.
The essence of sportsmanship is to examine, "What is the spirit of the rule? What is the spirit or purpose of the game?" Kids need to learn from their parents and their coaches that every good thing that happens to their team is usually a negative for the other side. We must honor and respect opponents when we play the game and adhere to the rules of the game. There is a certain fundamental spirit of fair and right play that reveals itself in all aspects of competition and the adults need to help kids become aware of it.
The chapter on travel teams was also very helpful in giving parents a chance to evaluate if trying out is appropriate for their child or encouraging a more casual recreation team would be a better match due to time, energy, money, politics, and a child's temperament.
Overcoming adversity is a major theme of this book and a good example is of Michael Jordan not making the high school team at age fifteen. Instead of complaining, Jordan asked the coach what he needed to work on to make the team the next season; then he worked his tail off because he was following his lifelong passion and channeled his frustration into a positive action.
Kids develop at their own rate and often an improvement in skills and coordination is related to a growth spurt. Don't compare your kids to anyone else's - they do not have to "keep up" and that only encourages an emphasis on winning instead of player development and a lifelong love of sports and being active for the sake of enjoyment.
One of the most important attributes a sports parent must have is patience. Kids need lots of time to develop their skills and they need lots of time to master them while their body is in the process of changing and maturing. It's important to give solid praise about their specific skills that are their personal highlights as the children's development really benefits from lots of encouragement.
The essence of sportsmanship is to examine, "What is the spirit of the rule? What is the spirit or purpose of the game?" Kids need to learn from their parents and their coaches that every good thing that happens to their team is usually a negative for the other side. We must honor and respect opponents when we play the game and adhere to the rules of the game. There is a certain fundamental spirit of fair and right play that reveals itself in all aspects of competition and the adults need to help kids become aware of it.
The chapter on travel teams was also very helpful in giving parents a chance to evaluate if trying out is appropriate for their child or encouraging a more casual recreation team would be a better match due to time, energy, money, politics, and a child's temperament.
June 28, 2013
I recommend this book to any parent of a toddler and up that you will be having play sports. Also, a must read for anyone considering coaching youth sports. I wish I had read this years ago when my kids were younger. Definitely realized I have room for improvement as a sports parent. Easy to read! Cal has the sports and parenting background that make him a credible resource!
January 7, 2014
Cal Ripken is very grounded and has a senseable approach to how we should parent our children in youth sports. Be supportive but don't run interference for them, let them learn through adversity (winning isn't the most important thing); and let your child live their dream(choose their own sport) don't force them to live yours.
January 10, 2010
For parents of kids in (or considering) sports, this is a worthwhile read. Ripken has a nice, balanced approach that will serve kids well.
December 7, 2012
Very comforting for those who have met all sorts of adversity along the way... Great advice for dealing with kids.
Wish they had a Kindle version.
Wish they had a Kindle version.
April 1, 2013
Should be mandatory reading for any youth coach. Changed my perception completely.
September 30, 2012
Mûst read
January 18, 2016
I love Cal Ripken Jr. even more. This should be made required reading.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews