Parents can play many roles in sport: current or former athlete, coach, fan, motivator, role model or critic. A few studies have shown that family members may influence an athlete’s involvement and achievement in sport more than coaches. Parents also are the first and most critical agents at socializing sports.

Are you a new parent to the baseball and softball scene? You may not be familiar with what players need, necessary equipment/gear, or what is expected of a parent. After polling other parents who had been in this situation before, here’s a few tips of the trade and what they said:

GENERAL INFO:

• Pants WILL get dirty.  Be ready to wash them or buy a few extra pairs to rotate. TIP: Pretreat pants and then go to a car wash and use the handheld powerwash on them.
• Parents will be asked to work snack shack shifts. They’re fun and provide fundraising for the organization to keep registration costs low.
• Kids will fail more than they succeed.  So, it is up to the parents to ALWAYS be positive for every kid. Remember: even college and professional players fail as a batter 75% of the time.
• Get a good chair (ex. stadium chair) and blanket to use for games. 
• Be ready for snacks after the game.
• Handy items for parents to have on hand:  Sunscreen, plenty of water, extra plastic bag for cleaning up trash or dirty cleats, wet wipes, large umbrella or pop-up tent.  Always great to have sunglasses and a baseball hat while at the fields.
• Be ready to give up your evenings and some weekend time during the season.

EQUIPMENT:

KCRBL provides a jersey and a baseball hat for all players.  Players need:

• Cleats, Pants, Socks, Belt, glove and “sleeves” shirt for cooler game days, can all be hand-me-downs
• Every season they will need a new size or a different color and it adds up quickly.
• Boys will need a protective cup.
• Have your own batting helmet and don’t let them share it.

MOST OF ALL, REMEMBER:

1. Don’t take it seriously – it should be FUN for everyone.
2. They are kids. Practice throwing and fielding, and hitting if possible, with them in the yard or local field or park. 
3. Enjoy every minute watching them and constantly encourage everyone.
4. It’s for the Kids.
5. HAVE FUN!

Parents and athletes need to manage their SportsEngine accounts to ensure they get the most out of their Kingswood Cal Ripken / Babe Ruth Baseball and Softball League experience during each sporting season. With their accounts properly configured, athletes and their families will receive communications according to their preferences and be able to complete registrations more efficiently.  SportsEngine has created a Team Management Guide for Parents and Athletes that will help our members with frequently asked questions about our website and mobile app.

New to SportsEngine?

Here is your quick start guide to creating an account and using the SportsEngine platform as an athlete or parent.

Adding an additional guardian

In many instances, more than one parent or guardian needs to be in the loop with a child's sports life. Using the mobile app, you can add additional guardians to an account. Guardians can 1) View games and events 2) RSVP to games and events 3) Send and receive messages to coaches and team members 4) participate in team chat

Adding a Mobile Phone

Once you've created your account, add your mobile phone so you can receive text messages from your team manager or coach.

Enabling Text Messaging

Now that you have your mobile phone on your account, make sure you enable text messaging and any other notifications.

Following a Team on the SportsEngine Mobile App

Are you a family friend, grandparent or fan that wants to follow a specific team on the SportsEngine platform? Here is a quick guide to follow teams on the mobile app.

Forwarding Athlete Messages

Do you need a second parent, other family member or nanny to get messages about schedule changes or game times? Add a second email address to forward all communications.

Sending a Message

Do you need to send a question to your team manager or another parent about a ride? Follow these instructions on how to send messages using the mobile app.

RSVP to Game or Event

Coaches and team managers need to know if you are going to able to attend a game or practice. You can easily RSVP using the mobile application.

Team Management Guide for Parents & Athletes

Is your team using SportsEngine Team Management to manage RSVPs, schedules, and communication? This article will provide you with everything you need to know for a successful season!

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