SPORTS
In my last blog, I summarized the negative trends and negative effects of early sport specialization and the pitfalls of overuse injuries in youth sports. The translation of the “compete to win” athletic paradigm in professional sports to younger and younger developing bodies, minds, and spirits isn’t producing very favorable results. Sports are great for adolescents. Overuse is bad.
Today, I am inspired to write on the virtues of youth sports done well. To this end, and over the last five years, I have served my community as a 12U Little League Baseball Manager and/or Assistant. My experiences have likely been typical of most of your experiences who may volunteer in similar capacities.
This 2019 “All Star Season” I served a different role. I was not the manager or primary assistant. My role was to primarily serve and support the coaches and managers and players as the 12U Division Director. I primarily served the coaching staff and the parents to some extent while staying involved in practice sessions fairly regularly. My primary role as Director provided me the unique perspective and observations from “outside the dugout” to the various coaching styles, communications, expectations, politics, governance and interpretations of the team dynamic. My role was supporter, counselor, advisor, water boy, social worker. Essentially behind the scenes in support of the league and the primary coaches selected in their vision and methodology in serving our Little League players.
This year’s ALL STAR team was unique in that every player is capable of playing at numerous positions. Each kid has his own unique strengths and characteristics. The focus was preparation in all the fundamentals with quality reps to all players daily. A positive on-field approach, supportive coaching, and repetitive drills prepared our team in all imagined game scenarios. Even with attention to detail, every player either made an error, struck out, dropped a fly ball or was down on himself at some point. Every player made a really quality play, some hit dramatic home runs, laid down a perfect bunt and/or hustled with grit to keep the inning going.
Baseball is a metaphor for life, for a medical practice, for organizations, for communities. The success and the failures.
Stay diligent, remain humble, listen, learn and don’t give up. Baseball is a game of overcoming failure.
That’s baseball. It can be a cruel game at times.
Success generally happens over time when you keep at it, and don’t give up on yourself.
Champions are made one play, one at bat, one game at a time over time. Good stuff when it all comes together.
See you on ESPN at the New England Regionals – GO RHODE ISLAND !
