Knees shaking, a five-year-old steps up to the plate.
In the spirit of America’s favorite pastime, a jubilant fan yells out: “Little rip, kid. Keep your eye on the ball. Swing hard! Hit it over the fence!”
Seizing the teachable moment, an assistant coach gets specific: “Step closer to the plate. Bring the bat back. Elbow up. Swing level.”
Rooted in the best of intentions, the loving parent flavors the moment: “Choke up. Keep your hands together. Step toward the pitcher when you swing. Hit the middle of the ball… just like we practiced at home!”
Pitch Count: 3 balls, 2 strikes
Feedback Count: 12
Elapsed Time: 37 seconds
Summary: In the span of 5 pitches in 37 seconds, a five-year-old has received 12 directives from 3 adults.
Count ’em, folks: Twelve.
My heart goes out to the nervous child who–in these fight-freeze-or-flight moments in front of all the fans–had to absorb, navigate, process, interpret, and respond to twelve specific commands from three trusted adults, some in positions of authority.
Run it back.
Look at those encouraging reminders again.
In no uncertain terms, the child was directed:
- How to swing
- Where to swing
- Where to hit the ball in the field
- How hard to hit the ball
- What part of the ball to hit
- Where to stand
- How to step
- How to position the hands together
- How to position the hands on the bat
- How to position the bat in relation to the rest of the body
- How to position the elbow
- Where to look, and
- To repeat what was practiced at home.
That’s a lot.
Do you know what also hurts a lot?
I just realized that I was the assistant coach and the loving parent. Well-intentioned, of course.
Do you know what else also hurts a lot?
That five-year-old batter was my son.
In this day and age when kids are getting slammed with stimuli like never before, less is more.
Feedback isn’t just about celebrating small wins, thin-slicing, capitalizing on confidence, and inspiring growth one step at a time.
It’s initially about how much.
In all my zest and passion, what I continue to learn is that too much feedback doesn’t work.
The biggest bang for the buck, or the best hit for the swing, might just be the top 1-2 pitches. For now.
And that’s okay.
