By Josh
I love baseball and softball. There is nothing like a warm summer day hanging out at a ball game for me. I’ve been amazingly lucky to have taken my now 4 year old daughter to around 200 games. She loves going to games with me, at least she says she loves it. I don’t know if she will play softball all her life but I believe she will be a fan of both baseball and softball all her life.
This is the biggest challenge facing both baseball and softball and their futures. Developing the next generation into fans of the sports will determine whether or not there is a future.
There are ways to develop the fan base for these amazing sports but honestly it doesn’t come with changing the rules of the game.
Trying to fix the game so there is more offense sounds good in theory but that isn’t what will draw fans.
Making the games shorter might help some. Honestly driving two hours to a game then staying there until 10:30 and having to drive home is rough so a fast game isn’t bad, but isn’t going to draw fans in.
You know what is going to draw in young fans? Relationships! When kids feel a connection to a player, doesn’t matter if it is a major league player, a college player, or even a high school player, that connection will inspire them to love the game.
Here are some ways I’ve seen great relationships being built with young fans.
Junior Players Joining In On Pregame Activities
Recently the local college softball team, Lower Columbia Red Devils, invited my nieces’ softball team to go out with them during player announcements and the national anthem. This didn’t cost anyone anything other than time. Time investing in a younger generation.
Even though it didn’t cost anything it impacted young players. The photos that were taken and the memories it created will help to inspire the next generation of players.
Fan Interaction
A lot of players try to keep their distance from fans. This happens a lot more at the higher levels than the lower levels but it does happen and it hurts the game. Now I’m not saying players need to take 20 minutes before and after every game to talk to fans. What I am saying is giving high fives to kids, taking a few photos and just talking to young fans can have a huge impact.
I’ve been lucky to see a lot of great ambassadors for the game of baseball in my time around baseball. Players with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes were often great with kids who came to the games. Asking them questions, sharing stories and much more.
The Cowlitz BlackBears have time after every game where fans young and old can come out to the field and take pictures, get autographs and talk with the players. This is an amazing way to help reach young players.
Autographs
Want a child to always remember an amazing experience with a player? An autograph can do that. Trust me I know firsthand. As a child I went to a Mariner game with my dad and met Ken Griffey Jr and Ken Griffey Sr. One of the 3 best baseball moments in my life. I got autographs from both Jr and Sr and even to this day those autographs remind me of that day.
I love seeing players signing autographs for kids. I see the excitement and joy that a simple autograph can cause and it is amazing. I know players can’t sign for every single fan that wants and autograph all the time. However, as ambassadors of the game players need to understand, and many do, that their choices will determine whether or not the game they love will continue to be strong for the next generation.