The Little League World Series presents a form of national pressure that young athletes rarely experience. But no amount of external intensity can overcome the influence a parent can have on their kid's mental well-being.
So you can imagine what an impact it made when Isaiah Jensen saw his dad/team manager visiting the mound during a LLWS game. Jensen was pitching with a 6-0 lead when he gave up a walk, prompting his dad, Joel, to trot onto the field.
The father-son pair from Oregon didn't talk baseball. They talked feelings. In a world filled with insane sports parents who overemphasize winning, it's a refreshing, much-needed moment:
Little League World Series Coach Visits Mound to Tell Son How Much He Loves Him #GoodStuff pic.twitter.com/5pZ4FskvKc
— SportsCast (@SportsCast_THN) August 22, 2016
Isaiah may not have appreciated that gesture in the moment, but someday he'll get what a gift that was. A memo to all other sports parents: Be more like this guy.
More Youth Sports:
-- What Makes A Nightmare Sports Parent?
-- Youth Sports Participation On Decline
-- 'Friday Night Tykes' Documentary Series Tackles Heart Of Youth Sports: Parents
