Why Kids Quit Baseball

One of the primary reasons children quit baseball by the age of 13 is a lack of interest or enjoyment in the activity. Children are naturally curious and tend to gravitate towards activities that they find fun and engaging. If a child is not having fun playing baseball, it can quickly become a chore, and they may lose interest. Parents and coaches can play a crucial role in helping children develop an interest in baseball. They can make sports more enjoyable by creating a positive and supportive environment. Encouraging children to have fun and to focus on the process of improving their skills, rather than just winning, can help them stay engaged in the sport.

Poor performance or lack of progress:

Another reason why children quit baseball by the age of 13 is poor performance or lack of progress. Youth coaches often spend a majority of the practice time optimizing for the short term outcomes for the game played on a small field.  This alone handcuffs a players skills for when they inevitably land on the standard baseball field with 90 ft base paths and a 60’6 inch mound.

The performance demands on the small youth field are very different from the performance demands of the game played on the standard field.  Coaches need to be aware of these demands and tailor their practice time toward building the skills, tools, and abilities that are going to aid the player in this transition

Children who are not seeing improvement in their skills or who are not performing well on a team can become discouraged and lose interest in baseball quickly.

Parents and coaches can help children improve their skills by providing constructive feedback and helping them set achievable performance goals. It is important to praise children for their efforts and progress, rather than just their results. This can help them stay motivated and engaged in the sport.

If a child is struggling with a particular skill or aspect of baseball, it may be helpful to provide additional support or training. Private coaching or extra practice sessions can help children improve their skills and build confidence if the performance goals are aligned to the demands that the player will need to meet on the standard size field

Not everyone picks up the game and is immediately great, lots of times it takes work.

When he was 11, Kobe Bryant played a full 25-game basketball season without scoring a single point.

He then took a simple mathematical approach to becoming one of the all-time greats: pic.twitter.com/TTV7NI61md

— Billy Oppenheimer (@bpoppenheimer) March 5, 2023