The term “fan” is short for fanatic. The definition for fanatic is:
a person who is extremely enthusiastic about and devoted to some interest or activity
source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fanatic
There is no bigger fan than a child’s parents followed closely by their coach. When something highly competitive, such as sports, gets mixed into the equation parents and coaches can lose sight of what really matters. What really matters at young ages is skill development and finding life long interests.
Coaches want to see their athletes play the game. They want them to win. Winning is succeeding. It is natural for this to occur. That is why you are coaching right? To teach the kids to play the game. That is true once your average player has mastered the basics.
Just like we are not born artists, we are not born athletes. Does genetics play a big role in how far someone can potentially go in athletics. Absolutely. Does playing a pickup game of basketball as an adult require you can dunk a basketball? Not at all. Just like a toddler learning to draw, the basic skills leading to being able to participate in athletics later in life are learned and fostered at a young age.
Continuing with the artist analogy, kids start small. My brother is a talented artist. One time we visited, he punched out a painting of a ninja turtle and spider man in front of a city backdrop in about half an hour for my son.
Many people have asked him how he got so good at drawing, or painting. His answer is always the same, just practice.
This same progression is required for sports. When someone first picks up a ball and throws it, there is no concept of aim. The muscles are doing new movements. Just like the first time someone picks up a pencil. As you practice the behavior the movements get more refined, your abilities increase. With persistent practice over time this development continues and you can see the progression.
The progression happens over years, as kids progress they get closer to playing the “real” game. Closer to what we can all watch on TV in the evenings. The game needs to progress with the athletes skill level.
Let’s take baseball for example. Hitting in baseball is not an easy task. It is impossible to step into a batters box and knock a 95 mph fastball out of the park having never swung a bat before. So we change the game. We put the ball on a tee, take away the timing aspect and start to develop that skill.
Similarly other aspects of the game evolve, we may start allowing a lead off and stolen bases. As the skill level develops the game needs to equally develop with the goal of some day being able to play the same game adults play.
Keep in mind it will not be until they are getting into high school or beyond that your adult experience of the game will align with what youth athletes can master.
So be proud of your child’s effort, foster a learning environment, and don’t be in a rush to see them play an adult version of the game.