Gamechanger Mom
One of the best things I ever did was learn how to use Gamechanger. (For reference, Gamechanger is an app for keeping score of games. In this case, it’s the electronic version of keeping the baseball book.) I get that it’s not hard, so I’m definitely not bragging about it. But I’m still proud of myself for doing it, especially because my first go of it was during Regionals of the 11U tournament when stakes felt higher than they actually were. But parents were watching my every move on that thing, making sure their kid’s stats were right. Heaven forbid I mark something an error instead of a hit. Gasp, the horror!
I used to get really bored at baseball games. Heck, I still do. If my kid is on the bench and it’s a slow game or a blowout, I’m somewhere else in my mind. But doing Gamechanger keeps me involved. I joke that it also keeps me from saying something stupid. If I’m focused on scoring the game, I can’t be cheering too loudly or commenting on any one play or call.
Side note: Back in Little League, when I did the book, you weren’t allowed to cheer. It always upset me to not be able to cheer for my kid, especially if he was the only one without a parent to cheer for him (as my husband was the coach). But back then, it definitely kept me from saying something stupid out loud for all to hear.
In travel ball, it’s even more fun. I get to learn the players’ names. Because our roster changed every week, it was tough to keep up. As we added new kids, we had duplicate numbers. With no names on the back of the jersey and no numbers or duplicate numbers, everyone was 0 in Gamechanger. Basically, Gamechanger helped me stay focused, cheer for the right kids, and learn their names.
It also gave me an excuse to meet the new parents each week. When there’s a new kid who needs to be added to the roster, you need their name (spelled correctly), preferred number (because our official uniforms would arrive eventually), and a parent email address. Gathering that info is the perfect excuse to break any tension or nerves with new families.
I also got exposure to the coaches. I had to collect their lineup card before each game. They needed to know who I was in case there were questions about pitch count. And, they knew when I was doing Gamechanger, I was marking every position change, pinch runner, and AB for both teams. So they would have a clean and accurate recap of the game.
I also score the game the way they taught us in Little League in order to be an official score keeper. Do you expect a kid at this level to make the play? If yes, and they don’t, it’s an error. If not, it’s a hit. When I explained it like that to a parent who complained about the call, it usually shut them down. If your kid was playing shortstop, would they have fielded that ball? Yes? Since that kid did not make the play, it’s an E6, not a hit.
Best of all, I learned the game. I had to. I watched the nuances. I still do not get pitching, so don’t ask me what type of pitch was thrown or what pitch I expect it to be. But I did start noticing what base runners were watching for before stealing. I enjoyed watching the catcher set up behind the plate, and the ripple effect it had on the rest of the defense. When the outfield moved left or right, in or out, it all started to make sense based on how the infield set up, or the catcher or the pitcher or the batter. I could see what that batter did the last time up. I was starting to see why my husband and son love the game. The mental part of it is way more fun than I ever gave it credit for in all my years of watching baseball. And, I only learned that by watching the game close enough to accurately score on Gamechanger.
In short, learn Gamechanger means: I contribute to the team. I am a good, responsible fan. And, I learn to love (or at least appreciate) the game my son loves. It’s a win/win/win.
