How Parents Can Encourage Fast Pitch Girls
by Joe Benedetti
Photograph/Video your daughter

Enlarge the photo

Frame it

Be proud of it!
Actively support your daughter's involvement

Buy her good equipment - bat, glove, batting gloves, etc.

Help her to learn the fundamental skills or running, throwing, catching,
hitting, etc and help her develop the ABCs - Agility, Balance and Agility

Come and watch her game and bring other relatives and friends

Consider volunteering in some capacity to support the team
Help her to develop good time management skills

Make sure your daughter has time in her life to be active - don't make her
sacrifice her involvement in sport so she can baby-sit or do housework.
Be an active role model yourself

A Mom's participation in sport increased participation the rates of her
children by 22%

A Dad's participation increased the rate by 11%
Emphasize the 4 Fs - Fun, Fitness, Fundamentals, and Friendships over
winning

Don't start post game conversations with: " We could have won if..."

Avoid comments about your daughter's body size and shape

Don't compare her to her teammates

Love and support her just the way she is

Build her confidence and competitive spirit and help her truly enjoy
playing
Introduce your daughter to active women

Expose your daughter to women who are athletes, coaches, umpires,
officials, and leaders in sport

Watch women's sports on TV

Take your daughter to women sport competitions in your community

Read the sport pages and visit web sites with her and follow the
performances of Canada's great female athletes, including college
athletes.
Plan Active Vacations or Weekend Excursions

Try hiking, cross-country skiing, rafting, canoeing, rock climbing etc.