Is there anything that screams “summer” more than warm evenings watching kids play parks and rec baseball?
For me, it’s certainly up there with pool time and popsicles as essential components of summer.
And, as I watched my daughter’s baseball game last night, it occurred to me that summer baseball is more than summer baseball.
Summer baseball might just provide the secret to life…
No one wants a participation trophy.
My daughter is in the ages 7-8 coach pitch division where they don’t even keep score, and she hates that. All of my kids do (in fact, my oldest refuses to even watch games in that division because there is no point if no one wins). And while I understand the value of learning the game in a less-pressured environment, all of the kids want to keep score. Yes, some of it is their natural competitive nature, but a lot of it is the objective data that measures their performance.
Beyond baseball: While everyone wants to feel like they are doing a good job, no one wants to be praised just because. They want to be praised for actually doing a good job, for actually meeting goals, for actually “winning.”
You have to know where you are going.
During my son’s practice earlier this week, I watch for 30 minutes as the kids practiced running to first base. Over and over. And over. Running to first base is a little different than running to other bases – you start off with hitting the ball (as opposed to already being on the field), you can run through the base (so you want to keep your momentum), and it’s the starting place. While you don’t actually get any points for making it to first base, you can’t get any points without first getting to first base.
Beyond baseball: Knowing not only where you want to go, but also where that first step is sets the team up for success. Take the time to make sure everyone knows the full process and what might be a little different about each step.
There is a role for both practice and game time.
My kids each have baseball twice a week – once for practice and once for a game, and this schedule stays mostly consistent for the whole season. They don’t suddenly stop having practices once the games start. They use the practices to run drills, debrief game performance, and focus on key areas of development (that, in theory, will help them in the game). At the games, they are fully present in the action, putting it all together and do they best they can with what they have.
Beyond baseball: Making space for both “game” performance and “practice” can really help move you towards your goals. When are you reflecting and learning…and when are you putting things into action?
Make it work.
A traditional baseball team has nine players. Last night, my daughter’s team had five, and the other team had 13. In the interest of still playing the game, they figured it out with the opposing team lending my daughter’s team some players to help cover the field. Yes, technically, my daughter’s team should have had to forfeit, and it was more important to everyone involved to actually play, so they made it happen.
Beyond baseball: Things almost never go as planned – deadlines more, staffing changes, budgets don’t align. And, it’s important to focus less on the “how” that you envision and more on the “why” and figure out the way.
Coaching is essential.
At my son’s practice earlier this week, there were 14 kids and five coaches (including both the official coaches and the parent volunteers). At my daughter’s game last time, combining the two teams, there were six coaches. The coaches prepped the players, made sure the kids were where they needed to be, gave them quick tips on how to be successful, and infused encouraging words. And, because they were coaches and not the kids’ parents, the kids listened. And they got better.
Beyond baseball: Everyone needs a coach – if professional athletes who are exceptional at what they do and make millions of dollars for it eagerly accept coaching, no one is exempt. Make sure you have a coach and those around you have coaches.
Sometimes it’s about the team, and sometimes it’s not.
Baseball is a team sport. No team can win if only one player shows up. And, that team is made up of individuals who best serve their team by giving their individual best. My daughter left the game last night telling me, “I am the best.” She was very proud of herself for getting a hit at each at bat, fielding some key plays, and encouraging her teammates. As a parent, I was okay with her having her moment of greatness because I saw that she valued the team component as well.
Beyond baseball: Every great team is made up of good individuals – and a really great team is more than the sum of those individuals. In order to make it work, there needs to be a focus on both the value of the team and the unique contributions of each individual.
I’m not sure if my kids are picking up on these lessons in the way that I am, but they’re there, and laying the foundation for them while tossing the ball around is certainly (summer) time well spent!
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