Rules-General

Blake Ress, the head of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), didn't let his personal bias get in the way when he dropped a rule barring girls from playing baseball that violated Title IX.

With the spring baseball season coming to a close, chances are, if you are a baseball parent, that you are thinking about signing up your child to play all-star, tournament or travel baseball (a/k/a "travel ball") this summer.  Picking the right travel baseball team for your child involves considering many factors, says MomsTeam baseball expert, John Pinkman.

No matter how talented your child may be, there are going to days when he doesn't play his best, or when, despite his best effort, his team loses.  How you manage both the ups, and the inevitable downs, will play a large role in whether your child has a successful youth sports experience.  Here are ten things to keep in mind after your child's team loses or he doesn't perform up to his expectations.

Kids, especially under twelve, are always seeking their parents' approval. Negative labels and generalizations and criticism can have a devastating emotional impact. If you critique your child's performance, she will interpret your anger, disapproval, and disappointment as meaning that you don't love her anymore-that your love is conditional.

Moms have always been a major part of a child's baseball experience. For all of their lives, moms have always been there to help them play baseball. Moms are the ones who pick the kids up and take them to the field, put band-aids on their knees, and console them when they fail. This is a story of a kid growing up in Teaneck, New Jersey in the 1950's and a mom who instilled in him a life-long love of baseball and the New York Yankees.

As a youth baseball coach for the last six years, I come to realize that there are a lot of myths about coaching. Here are my top five, along with a way to ensure that everyone had fun, not just during practices, but games as well.