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

by Cal Ripken Jr., Rick Wolff

Since he retired from baseball in 2001, Cal Ripken, Jr., has devoted his time to coaching kids, including his own son and daughter, who play baseball and basketball, among other sports. With a baseball league of nearly 700,000 kids, ages 5-12, named for him, he has also had a chance to meet and work with countless young athletes. Cal Ripken’s simple yet effective philosophy for helping kids get the most out of playing sports is to keep it simple, explain the “why,” celebrate the individual, and make it fun! But Ripken is troubled by what he sees in youth sports: a competitive intensity that removes the element of fun from playing. Now, drawing on his experiences as a father, a player, and a coach to his charges at his youth baseball based organization, Ripken Baseball, the legend offers his insights and advice on how to approach organized sports with your kids to ensure they have the best experience possible, stay fit, and enjoy themselves.

Whether you were a star player or a kid who never learned to throw, this book will tell you everything you need to know about sports parenting from the pre-school years to middle school. It covers all the bases, including:
* Teaching the basics of sportsmanship
* How an overemphasis on technique or winning can harm your child’s game
* How to develop a good relationship with your child’s coach
* The pros and cons of travel teams and club teams
* The importance of returning the games to the kids and how best to behave as a parent
* The latest on performance and nutrition
* Fun games and exercises to do with your kids to encourage them
* Why most kids burn out on team sports by middle school and how to avoid it

Few athletes embody sportsmanship and fair play as perfectly as Cal Ripken. His advice will inspire confidence in kids and parents alike.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2006

About the author

Cal 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.

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Ben Oberholtzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Brian O'Leary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good advice, but all stuff I already know.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Chad Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Rob Hermanowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

For parents of kids in (or considering) sports, this is a worthwhile read. Ripken has a nice, balanced approach that will serve kids well.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kevin Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be mandatory reading for any youth coach. Changed my perception completely.

[Roger Zaccour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mûst read

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Cal Ripken Jr. even more. This should be made required reading.