feeling low

I usually have terrible starts to the season while I experiment with positioning. It can start to unravel a team a bit, but I've found a few things work well.

1) Don't give in to the knee-jerk reaction of intensifying practices. Keep to your regular practice schedule, and make it fun. Do something special after each practice. If kids start to feel like practice is something to be endured rather than something to look forward to, they'll lose interest.

2) Bring positives to your post-game chat. "Jimmy really scalded that ball, but the 2B made a great play and that happens."

3) Be much more careful with criticisms (which should always be done in private). Make sure there is extra bread in the criticism sandwich.

4) DO NOT BLAME THE UMPIRE. Bad calls even out, and when you're losing, they just seem more obvious and more often against you.

5) Make things as much fun as possible. Kids gotta bring something positive out of the games and season if you want them to keep coming back.