I know I'm biased, but I think Summer Baseball Camp is one of the most unique and rewarding youth sports experiences this current generation of kids can have.

As every sport in every corner of America becomes more and more competitive at younger and younger ages (more tournaments, more rankings, more pressure), sports have become less and less fun for kids.

(This is why 70% of kids stop playing sports by age 13 and cite "it's not fun anymore" as the #1 reason they quit)

Summer Camp is an opportunity for ballplayers to be around their friends, improve their skills, and become great teammates with literally zero emphasis or pressure put on winning, making all-stars, or advancing to next region.

It's really just about having fun playing the game and challenging themselves to improve their skills.

This Summer's Camp is obviously different than anything we've ever experienced as COVID has turned all of our worlds upside-down.

Ballplayers are 6 feet apart, high-fives aren't allowed, and playing live games are still on the "no-fly list."

But I've already noticed something really positive happening on the field. With youth sports taken away from them by COVID, I think kids are realizing what they really love about baseball.

And it has nothing to do with standing, stats, or "championship rings."

They missed their friends.

They missed being on a team.

They missed taking groundballs.

They missed chasing down flyballs.

They missed batting practice.

They missed being kids.

They missed PLAYING.

And after the first week and a half of being on the field baseball in over 5 months, campers are doing all of the above with more joy, more enthusiasm, and more PURE love of the game than I've ever seen before.

It's been truly amazing to watch.

You know what these kids haven't missed?

Losing sleep over their spot in the batting order.

Worrying about the scoreboard.

Getting sad if the league standings say their team isn't in 1st place.

Being concerned if they'll make all-stars.

Getting yelled at by an adult for making a mistake.

None of that.

They're out on the field at camp simply playing TO PLAY.

That's it.

It's just stripped down, no frills, love of the game. It reminds me of how the kids in the Dominican play. And it's awesome to see it here at home.

To quote the great Joni Mitchell: "You don't know you've got 'til it's gone…"

There's no doubt that having baseball taken away from them left a void in their lives for many months, and now that they're back, it seems so obvious exactly WHAT about the game they missed.

Someday soon, there will be a post-COVID world and life will go back to normal.

When that happens, as parents and coaches, let's do everything we can to learn lessons from this experience and re-commit ourselves to making our child's love and enjoyment of the game our FIRST priority.

COVID might end up changing a lot about our lives in the coming years as more people work from home, travel less, and wash their hands with greater frequency :-)

Maybe it will also change our approach to youth sports...for the better!