Ex-MLB Pitcher R.A. Dickey on The Turf: Lessons in Parenting and Youth Sports | D1 Daily
Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey has lived both sides of the sports journey — from being a first-round MLB draft pick to becoming a dad watching his own kids compete.
Now retired from baseball, Dickey shared candid thoughts on The Turf: Powered by D1 about how his mindset as a father, mentor, and youth coach has evolved — and the lessons he’s learned the hard way.
WATCH/LISTEN: R.A. Dickey on The Turf via Apple | Spotify | YouTube
1. “I probably overcompensated for not being around.”
After 21 years of professional baseball, Dickey said the toughest transition wasn’t from pitcher to retiree — it was from athlete to parent.
“Some of the mistakes I made probably when I was inserting myself into the athletic development of my kids was I probably overcompensated for not being around for most of their lives. So I was full-in, hands-on — interrupting their practices, saying things during games.”
He admits that passion and good intentions can easily turn into pressure — and that his early approach left his son Eli without “a voice” in his own journey.
“It took me a few years to realize this is his journey, not mine. The more freedom and voice I gave him, the more he started to thrive.”
2. The “Car Rule” — No Baseball Talk Unless They Bring It Up
To protect the joy of the game, Dickey created a simple but powerful rule.
“Once the game is over and we’re in the car, I don’t talk about baseball at all — unless he brings it up.
When he brings it up, 95% of the time we have a great conversation.
When I bring it up, 95% of the time we have a horrible conversation.”
It’s a lesson every sports parent can relate to: sometimes silence is support.
3. Let Them Play — Even if It’s Not Your Sport
Dickey’s younger son, Van, loves football and track — and hates baseball. Instead of forcing the game that defined his life, R.A. says he’s grateful.
“I actually love it that he doesn’t like baseball. I made a lot of mistakes with Eli that I can now implement with Van. He plays a lot freer than Eli did because of that.”
4. No Cookie-Cutter Path to Success
As a player, Dickey’s journey was unconventional — he didn’t specialize early, and he didn’t rely on modern data or individualized training until later in his career. As a parent, he sees how the landscape has changed — and the pressure to specialize has intensified.
“If my son wants to play Major League Baseball, he’s going to have to specialize. That’s just the way it is now. But when we were growing up, we played everything — football, basketball, baseball — and I think that made us more complete athletes.”
Still, he believes the best development happens when kids want to be out there.
“He needs to enjoy what he’s doing or he’ll never get there.”
5. From Control to Coaching
These days, Dickey channels his competitive energy into mentoring — and self-awareness. Whether coaching travel ball or talking to other parents, his advice always comes back to one thing: let your kids love the process.
“The best memories I ever had as a kid were when I had the freedom to play how I wanted.
No one was yelling from the stands. I could just play.”
Key Takeaway
R.A. Dickey’s evolution from MLB star to sports dad shows that the hardest skill to master in youth sports isn’t pitching or hitting — it’s letting go.
“It’s their journey, not yours. Give them space to find their own joy — and you’ll both win.”
About The Turf: Powered by D1
The Turf is a podcast hosted by D1 Training founder Will Bartholomew, featuring athletes and coaches who’ve lived the grind. Watch or hear the full episode with R.A. Dickey and explore more stories about leadership, training, and life lessons from the pros.