Hometown Clinton - Fall 2015

Coaches play an important role in the lives of their players.
Whether it’s football, basketball, baseball or track, the men and women that push
our kids to limits that even they, themselves, don’t know they can reach, leave imprints
in the hearts of our young people that are rarely ever forgotten.
Another summer has come and gone – and
what a summer it’s been. From contentious
flag debates and seemingly endless discussions
of Supreme Court rulings to a couple of 3-point
magnitude earthquakes in the northern part of
our metro, there has been no shortage of material
to keep water-cooler conversations at a full tilt.
But for my 12-year old, life is much simpler.
It’s all about sports.
My son plays baseball. For years we have
been at the ballparks most every weekend
during the spring and summer – and I knew
early on that it would take some industrial-type
equipment to keep me from exploding from
the heat. So my husband was kind (and wise)
enough to invest in a tent, a generator, and a
couple of commercial-grade fans as a means
for my survival. He knew that if I was ever
actually going to see one of these games, and
certainly if I was expected to be friendly and
hospitable to the other player’s family members,
then I would need to keep my core body
temperature somewhere below boiling and the
point of spontaneous combustion.
As it turns out, we’ve made fabulous friends
throughout our time “in the stands”. And, we all
share in the common belief that America’s greatest
pastime is particularly important for our boys –
and for different reasons than you might think.
Coaches play such an important role in the
lives of their players. Whether its football,
basketball, baseball or track, the men and
women that push our kids to limits that even
they, themselves, do not know they can reach,
leave imprints in the hearts of our young people
that are rarely ever forgotten.
Kids will do things for their coaches that they
might never do otherwise. They have an inherent
desire to please. My son became a catcher this
year, and a darn decent one at that. He did it
because his coaches told him he could do it.
Heck, I didn’t even know he could do it! But they
did. A good coach will make his players see what
they can be, rather than what they are.
I’ve enjoyed reading all the Q&A’s from the
area coaches in this particular issue of Hometown.
What I found interesting is that when asked what
their most important accomplishment was as a
coach, none of them said “winning” – not a one.
It was all about shaping a player’s life, having
them become productive members of society,
and teaching a strong work ethic. It was about
influence versus control.
These men have proven that in order to be
a good coach, one must abide by a handful of
basic rules. And if these rules are adhered to,
their players will leave absolutely everything
they have out on the field.
The first is to be positive and make it fun.
Great coaches know how to teach without
criticizing and provide positive reinforcement.
They help players develop confidence in
themselves. And confident players someday
make confident adults. What a gift.
They set expectations early and provide
feedback, often. And they teach their teams
respect – respect for the game, respect for their
teammates and respect for the opponent. Again,
sounds a lot like life to me. That could be any
day at the office for an adult.
But as I continued to spend more and more
weekends at the ballpark, I found that even more
of life’s lessons closely mirror the game.
For example, it’s imperative to take breaks.
In the major league it’s called the 7th Inning
Stretch. In little league, it’s called – well it’s called
the end of the game. But the lesson in it is that
no matter how important the task at-hand, it’s
important to stop, stretch and revitalize.
Fair or foul? It’s all in how you see it, right?
Well, in baseball, there’s a clear foul line. But in
life, there’s not. Sometimes what we think is
good, isn’t, and vice-versa. And how many times
have we heard the coach yell, “Pick your pitch!”
Because as we all know, you can’t take back a
swing.
As the great Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over ‘till
it’s over.” My son’s baseball team played in the
state championship several weeks ago. They
made it to the finals. I’m not sure any of us ever
thought they would. It was the 5th inning and
they were down 5-0. Second-place looked
imminent. But then something happened. These
12-year old boys reached down into their hot,
sweaty, filthy, exhausted souls and embarked
upon a fight that few of us, if any, had ever seen.
They fought back as if their lives depended on
it – and won in the 6th inning, 6-5. They won the
state championship.
They gave it everything they had and left
absolutely all of it out on the field. And their
coaches did, too. No matter how bad the game
got, they never ... stopped ... swinging. I’ve never
been more proud.
So, to our mighty team of baseball warriors
– T-Train, PK, Pey-Pey, Ford, Austin, Chandler,
Whup, Stone, Braedon and Zack – these
lessons will serve you well in life. And it won’t
be the last time you’ll have to fight hard and
claw your way off the bottom, either. What starts
as a simple game of baseball (or football, or
basketball, etc.) can mold your character and
help to pave the way for a wonderfully bright
future. You just have to keep showing up and
keep swinging.
And to our coaches – all coaches, for that
matter. Thank you. Thank you for investing in the
future of our young people as they learn to
navigate life both on, and off, the field. And thank
you for helping them understand the importance of
being a part of something larger than themselves.
Hometown Clinton • 49