3 Tips for Better Pre/Post-Game Drives

With the start of the season upon us, and the fields finally drying after endless amounts of poorly timed rained, Ive been wrestling with this thought:

How do I show up for my son this season, not just as his coach, but as his dad?

As I reflected on the previous season, which was my son’s first season of tee ball, the image of us piling in the car after games was one I could not stop seeing.

This reminded me that our kid’s sports experience extends beyond the game itself, but to the moments that bookend it, most notably the car ride home.

These drives can be so much more than just a commute; they’re the first moments our kids have to process the game, their highlights, their errors, and yes, they’re hyper aware of our comments, silently seeking our approval and feedback.

While thinking of ways I could enhance our car rides home, I started pondering if I could better engineer my car rides to the game?

What if a great car ride could help my son relax and play better?!

With this theme in mind, I compiled some ideas which could help improve your car journeys with your children:

3 Tips For Your Drive To The Game

1. Get Pumped To Compete With Hype Music! 🎶

Music is a great mood setter and can help get your child in the right mindset to be at their best. Pump your child’s spirits by putting on some hype music!

HERE is the Legends Summer Camp Pump Up Playlist if you need ideas for pump up jams!

2. Create 1 Process Based Goal 🥅

Ask your child what is 1 thing they want to focus on today?

The key is, make it something they can control and not an outcome.

A process based goal would be:

“I’m going to run as hard as I can every time after hitting the ball.”
“I’m going to swing at the first strike of the at-bat.”
“I’m going to have the most focused warm up of the season.”

We want controllable goals instead of results-based goals like “I want to hit a double”, or “I want to give up zero runs on the mound.”

3. Visualize 🧘‍♂️

This is about seeing success before it happens, planting seeds of confidence and calm.

Try talking through visualization scenarios.

“Imagine you are up to plate with the game on the line, full count, and you rope a ball into shallow center field for the winning run!”

Playing out situations before they happen can increase confidence and the likelihood of success in those moments!

3 Tips For Your Drive After The Game

1. Implement The “Hat Rule” 🧢

For players who are highly emotional or who had a difficult game, you can implement this rule.

If the players hat is on their head, they are signifying they are comfortable talking about the game. If they take their hat off, they are no longer in “game mode” and they are not ready to talk about the game….

2. Establish Post-Game Traditions 🍦

Who doesn’t love grabbing a bite after the game with your son!?

Creating post-game traditions, whether grabbing a favorite treat or playing on the playground with teammates, these postgame moments are a great time to bond and connect with your child.

3. Encourage Self-Reflection 🤔

Instead of immediately offering observations, asking, “How do you feel about today’s game?” will empower your child to evaluate their own performance, so they are looking internally for validation instead of externally.

We want to train our children to play for themselves, for love of the game, not to please us.

I hope you found some of these tips helpful and they have inspired you to be more intentional about your drives to and from the games!

Here’s to making every moment count and to a season filled with unforgettable memories and transformative rides.

On your team always,
Captain Fun