I had a wonderful opportunity to be up in New England recently to watch a boys baseball team ranging in ages from 9-12 yr olds. What a phenomenal example of unity and enthusiasm I saw amongst these boys. I mean cheering from the bench about getting fired up. One team member would holler, "let's get fired up!" and then rest of the team with follow through with the chant. You couldn't help catching the enthusiasm in the atmosphere and feeling the energy. Not only did they send out cheers from the bench about being fired up as a team, but also hollering words of encouragement while out on the field. All throughout the game they would send hollers of encouragement to the pitcher. There was no negative talk throughout the game within the team or to the opposing team. The parents and family members in the stands were equally encouraging toward all the players. I attended 3 games over a 3 week period during their mid-season. It started with the team being undefeated as I watched. They won the first game it appeared without any challenge on the teams part. Still maintained great sportsmanship and I was just so moved by the unity and enthusiasm of this team and their spectators. I've traveled all over this country and I've never seen such unity and enthusiasm within a young team of 9-12 yr old boys, but that's not the moral of my story here.
The second game they lost by a few runs and yes it was a bit discouraging to them since they hadn't lost a game all season until now. BUT the third game the coach decided to take a whole different approach. The boys on the team had asked him if they could play different positions and change it up a bit. The boys wanted some creativity instead of the same old same old they had been doing all season long. Of course they are forgetting that they've won all their games except one thus far, but the coach decided a more important lesson was to be learned. So as the players start their third game I hear the coach has allowed the players to pick their own positions today. I noticed many of the younger players are out on the field playing and the older ones are on the bench cheering them on. Now I don't have to tell you that most likely the older boys are better players if for no other reason they have more experience, but this isn't the life lesson these boys are about to learn today. They are going to learn to trust their coach. By the end of the 4th inning the team is behind 11-4 and they aren't happy. Remember at their age there's only 6 innings to a game. The coach decided to put some of the older kids back in so they could see the difference when putting the right players in their best positions. The team lost but only by one run when the game ended with an end score of 13-12. The team had got 8 more runs in those last two innings they were up to bat. I think this would allow us to believe the coach knows the players on the team and where they are best positioned for the team.
After congratulating the other team for their victory I had the chance to hear the talk the coach had with the boys in the dugout. I was off to the side listening to this valuable life lesson these kids were about to learn and continue learning throughout their lives. It was summed up like this... "Boys, you played a great game today. Most of the younger ones played and there were only a few errors. Not bad, but I want you to understand something about the team. A good team is like a well oiled machine. It has parts that make it function at its best and you can't move those parts around or the machine won't function properly. The same thing happens here when we're playing this game. Each of you has a position on the team where you play your best and allows the team to function at its best, but if you start changing it all around we lose the best performance of the team. I let you pick your positions today because I want you to see what happens to the team when you don't have a plan or a strategy in playing the game. You need to trust your coach that he/she has their eyes on the whole team and knows what's best for everybody."
I got to tell you I walked away inspired by this event because I'm a coach myself and work with families all over the country. This coach wasn't concerned about winning as much as he was about the life lessons he could teach those wonderful 9-12 yr old boys on the team. So what are we doing each day as we set an example for our youth. Is there a generation out there that's more concerned with the "what about ME?" attitude or thinking more about the bigger picture and how they can work best with a group of people to fulfill a bigger vision? This time I saw a great coach teaching our youth a life lesson that will carry them into adulthood instilling great character.
Thank you Lesa for this wonderful article. My two sons are actually a member of the team you mentioned and I am pleased to know that others out there will be able to hear about the wonderful experience this team has had and about how fortunate they are to have a coach that really cares not only about the sport of baseball that we are so passionate about here but about the boys as well. We have a great team including the coaches, the kids and the parents. We are very blessed.
Posted by: Lee Lee | June 24, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Lee Lee, Thank you for taking the time to post your thoughts on the article. You got it right! The community that represents this team from the boys who play, to the coaches, and the parents are unique and inspirational. More people in the world need to know that it's out there. If we look and explore we can find it in pockets of communities in our country. We just need open our eyes a little wider to be inspired and renew our hope to keep persevering to remain positive role models for our youth. You keep being the great Mom that you are to your two sons and know that one day what you are doing now will leave a lasting legacy.
Posted by: Lesa | June 24, 2008 at 04:52 PM
This team won the season championship and became better individuals along the way because of the great support of their coaches and the community. They set an example of what a great team is really made of. Such as good sportsmanship, enthusiasm, focusing, giving it all you got, it's not about one player, but the team as a whole, and to shake it off when things don't go right but to move on to the next play. Congrats!!
Posted by: Lesa | June 27, 2008 at 03:07 PM
This is a great story. I am actually one of the kids on the baseball team. I thought that that day was a good lesson for the younger kids. I am one of the older kids and I was on the bench. My father is the coach I have learned many life lessons from him. He is a great man. Thank you for writing this story about our team.
Posted by: Walker | July 15, 2008 at 09:52 AM
Walker, this is super to receive a message from one of the kids on the team. It's also a great example of your character to honor your Dad by giving him such credit in your message. I believe I saw you that day at the game as you sat on the bench and was the major initiator of the cheering done by the team. You were a leader in creating the enthusiasm and whether you realize it or not right now that character trait of enthusiasm and encouraging others can assist you in becoming a great success in your adulthood. Most of our world's great leaders have learned that we can move people much further in reaching the goal when we come across with encouragement and enthusiasm rather than bossy and arrogant. I'm very proud of you and your team and keep up that great attitude.
Posted by: Lesa | July 15, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Even though I was not there to watch the game I think that the coach teaching that life lesson was the best way to go with it. Because even though they didn't win, it wasn't about that, it was about them learning that lesson. I'm a softball player and I wish that my coach would give me that type of life lesson. I am thirteen years old and my name is Angelica
Posted by: Angelica | July 15, 2008 at 07:45 PM
Angelica, it's really awesome that you value the life lessons a coach can teach you at your age(13). Great mentors are hard to find in life and when you find them hang on to them for as long as you can. They will come your way as you go through life and share wisdom with you that will help you whether in school, sports, career, and family. I think it's great that you are an athlete yourself. From the article I wrote you can see how wonderful sports are to teach us certain principles like teamwork, positive attitudes, enthusiasm and respect for one another. Go get'em and I wish you the utmost success.
Posted by: Lesa | July 16, 2008 at 12:47 PM