There are NO "Little Things!"

I am sure many of you have heard, "We just have to do the little things to be successful." Turns out that if all you have to do is the "little things" to succeed, those "little things" must not be that little after all. Many aspects of our game, softball, are very easy: playing catch, fielding a ground ball, taking good angles to balls, etc. (I will say that hitting is not among this list) With that said, we still have to devote time and focus to make sure that we are attacking these skills appropriately. There are no "little things" in our game.

We must make sure that we do not fall into the trap of false language. If we continue to say things like, "we would have won if we would have done the 'little things'," we will soon give in to talk like, "we only lost by one run. That isn't too bad." Focus, work hard, and devote time to improving yourself mentally and physically in all aspects and the game will come easy because you focused on the process and your body knows what to do in each and every situation.

What's Your Greatest Obstacle?

My two least favorite excuses, "It's too hard," and "I can't!" I find these comments to be selfish, and usually stated by someone who wants to do the very least possible. Too often athletes complain about things like the heat, the cold, being bored, running a mile, etc. Coach T sent me this video of a young man that shows great determination and heart. I hope that this story is refreshing and opens all of our eyes to what is possible if we work hard, stay committed, and play with heart.

Crusaders For A Cure

Teamwork is defined by Webster as “work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole.” Simply put, sacrificing self for the good of the whole. Great teams work hard together toward a common goal. For the Helias Softball Team that goal is usually tied to the pursuit of a state championship, but for one weekend that goal became something much greater.

On Friday, June 6, through Saturday, June 7, the Helias Softball Team took on their toughest opponent in school history, cancer. The Helias Softball Team became Crusaders For A Cure at the Cole County Relay For Life. Helias Softball players, their parents, and grandparents all took part in the 12 hour event, raising money to help find a cure for a disease that has caused so many people immense pain and suffering. The night was filled with celebrating the victories of cancer survivors and remembering those taken too soon by the disease.

In this extra inning battle that at times seems to have no end, a group of teenage softball players vowed to band together and do their part to ensure victory over the disease. For the entire event at least one member of the Crusaders For A Cure team was on the track in an effort to show their commitment to finding a cure for cancer.

I hope that every team takes the opportunity to be more than a win in the following morning's box scores. I am very proud to be associated with a team whose hard work and dedication could end up being a win for people who otherwise might have little hope.

Living in the Now

History is an important part of our lives. We talk about past experiences remembering the good and the bad. History helps us repeat or refrain from past decisions. But, as an athlete we have to make sure that we do not dwell on negative past experiences.

As athletes we need to live in the present. Clear your mind, focus on the task, and let your preparation take over. In a sport where failing 6 or 7 times at the plate makes you a great hitter, you have to condition your mind to stay focused on the positive and the present. Live in the now! There is plenty of time to prepare your mind before you step into the batters box. The mind is a powerful tool. You have to train yourself to make it your ally, not your foe.

Prepare, be positive, and focus on the present, a quick an easy reminder before you step into the box, or step out on the field.

You Choose

Sleep to noon each and every day
or early rise in the sun to play.
Up for a run or hit the snooze.
It's up to you, You Choose!

Out all night when trouble hits
or a meal at the table where family sits.
Find situations where you can't lose.
It's up to you, You Choose!

Go to practice putting team first
or do not, making them worse.
Make the team better, or refuse.
It's up to you, You Choose!

You make the choice, wrong or right.
Keep your focus, the goal in sight.
Do it right make no excuse.
It's up to you, You Choose!

--BGC--

Heart, Focus, Determination, Courage........Character

I was sent a story that recently took place at Pepperdine University in the Men's Division I Tennis Tournament. The story is very fitting as we prepare to take part in the Relay For Life and as we strive to be committed to our team and our teammates.


Waves Advance to the Sweet Sixteen
Courtesy: Pepperdine Sports Information
Release: 05/11/2008

Courtesy: Pepperdine Athletics

MALIBU, Calif. — In an amazing show of heart, strength and determination, Andre Begemann helped lead the Pepperdine men’s tennis team to a 4-2 victory over Stanford University, Saturday afternoon, in round two of the NCAA Division I Tennis Tournament. Begemann had received a phone call from his father in Germany last night, with the news that his mother had just passed away after a long battle with cancer.

“I knew she was very sick on Friday and I wanted to go home,” said Begemann. “I spoke with her Saturday morning and she asked that I stay and play in the tournament. My tennis career meant so much to her.”

Begemann asked Coach Steinberg not to tell the team prior to the match. He wanted his teammates focused on beating Stanford. With only three hours of sleep, a subdued but focused Begemann struggled in doubles, and then came back with a vengeance in singles. It was fitting that his was the first singles match to finish and to tie the match with Stanford. After his victory, he sat on the bench with his head in his hands and a bright red towel wrapped around his neck while he struggled to keep his composure. His performance was nothing short of courageous and a tremendous tribute to a mother who meant the world to him.

“It was the most incredible match I’ve ever coached,” said Coach Adam Steinberg. “Andre played with so much heart under the circumstances. I’ve never coached in a situation like that and I hope I never have to again.”

In front of a crowd of over two hundred spectators, both teams gave it their all. Few among the crowd knew of the personal struggle on court one.

“This is a young man who honored his mother and played his best among the best in the country,” said Pepperdine Athletic Director John Watson. “He played with so much love and emotion that it was overwhelming.”

All too often athletes complain about having a bad day or not feeling well as an excuse to their performance. I think this story puts things into perspective. Most of the things we have to fight through are no where near as significant as Andre's loss. I applaud Andre's decision to stay and play, but it would have been just as courageous for him to go home and be with his family. He made his decision, and regardless of the lack of sleep and the deep emotional pain, he gave his absolute all for his team, his teammates, and his mom.

What will be Your Legacy?

In high school athletics only one thing is certain, you will only have, at maximum, four years to be part of a team. All members of the team leave something behind, some legacy that others remember. Some legacies have lasted for decades, while others are just a ghostly vapor that fades over time. Be a lasting legacy!

It is important that we determine our definition of “legacy.” Some believe a legacy is all about them and what they will be remembered for, such as how great a pitcher they were or how great a hitter they were, or records they have set. If this is your definition of legacy, then your legacy lives and dies with your records staying intact. How much greater is a legacy that is left behind to benefit all players for all time, a legacy that benefits Helias Softball first and foremost?

My hope is that you are remembered for who YOU are. Remembered for you as a person first and a player second. Remembered for the commitment you had to be your best in order for your team to be its best. Remembered for the confidence you had in yourself and your teammates no matter what the odds or the situation. Remembered for the character you displayed when you served your teammates, your friends, your school, your family, and those in need. Remembered for the routines you left behind to be repeated by the countless new faces that will be added to Helias Softball year after year. Remembered for your living legacy, a legacy that defines the personality of a team that you put your heart and soul in and breathed life into. You have a choice as to how you will be remembered by what you will leave behind for the future.

What will be your Legacy?

"The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out." Thomas Macaulay

Remarkable Story of Character

Most of the stories we hear about, read about, or watch on television that deal with athletes are very negative. Athletes using performance enhancing drugs, abusing alcohol, and displaying lewd conduct seem to be an everyday occurrence. There is a story that took place on a softball field in the State of Washington on April 27, 2008, that absolutely touched my heart. It is a story of what being an athlete is all about. A story of true character that I will not forget in my lifetime. The story is more powerful if you watch it. I have placed two videos on this post. The first is a great telling of the story. the second video is an ESPN interview with the players involved. I hope that we can display this same character in our upcoming summer and fall seasons, but more importantly I hope that we can display great character in our every day lives. If you would like to read more about the story it is on ESPN's website, The Early Show's website, and Good Morning America's website. Enjoy!

Our Journey

A sunny day, work to be done, and jay birds fly upward toward the sun,
but I'll work hard and I'll fly higher, than any jay bird could ever aspire.

The bulldogs growl and bark away, and hornets buzz around all day,
but I am swift and they don't bother me, a cloud of dust is all they will see.

And owls and lakers lazily sleep, fading away without even a peep.
I'll leave them be, all snug in their slumber, to nightmares and fear of me and my lumber.

Falcons soar and are very proud, while pirates on shore are boisterous and loud
I stay humble just doing my best, and leave them behind to weep with the rest.

Spartans are ancient from days of old and Kewpies are babies, they are not bold,
but I am committed to all that I do, and when they look in my eyes, they see it too.

Bulldogs again! We took care of that, and Comets have no hands to hold onto a bat.
I'm on a team that works hard together, and what we have planned will live on forever.

Pirates again with patches on their eyes, and bruins are strong, but don't search for the prize.
Tigers are powerful and like to attack, but I am confident I can tame them with my team at my back.

My journey has seen many fine sights, many that would cause most people a fright.
And although my adventure seems to come to an end, it start right back over with Districts my friend.

Purpose, preparation, and confidence at my side, commitment and courage ride right next to Pride.

A Crusader am I mounted high on my steed, and along with my teammates Blue and Gold's what we bleed.

With one goal in mind we control our own fate and no mascot will hinder our journey to STATE.

--BGC--

Actions Speak Louder.....Keep Your Cool

You've been there, the heat of competition, game is close, and tension begins to mount. Emotions swirl around and you find that your mind is so cluttered that any sense of clarity has passed by. Hopefully someone, a coach, captain, or some team leader, stepped up and had something to say. If you are like me, you may not remember a word coming out of the person's mouth. Turns out that the words are not that important anyway.

Most athletes in a time of high stress remember the actions, nonverbal communication, and tone of those who step up to lead, more so than the actual words. Unfortunately, too many of us recall these moments where someone either tries to rally everyone by yelling and screaming, or by someone who is so stressed out themselves they put you in a more unsettled place. Ideally the coach or team leader that steps forward is a person who can keep their cool. Someone whose composure is never in question. Someone whose very nature, regardless of actual words spoke, puts you in a more relaxed state, aiding you in performing at your highest level.

As leaders, keeping your composure is of the utmost importance. I have said before that the leaders of a team have a major impact on the teams personality. Those players who are looked up to by their peers tend to be the pulse of the team. If the leaders show anxiety, tentativeness, and a lack of confidence, it will spread throughout the team like a virus. If the leaders are composed, confident, aggressive, and courageous, these qualities will also find their way into the play of their teammates. Keep your cool and be consistent. Lead with the same spirit whether in a close game or a nail biter. In many cases the composure of a team's leaders is the difference between winning 1-run games and losing 1-run games.

"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." Tom Landry, former Dallas Cowboys Coach

Great Expectations

When I was young I dreamed of 3-2 counts bases loaded and hitting the ball out of the park, throwing a game winning touchdown, and hitting the game winning shot at the buzzer. There were no limitations and the sky was the limit. No one made me live in their version of "reality." I am sure there was a time in your life when you felt the same freedom. When did we start "playing it safe?" When did we begin telling ourselves, "be real, you can't do that," or worse, listening to others tell us what we can and can't do? Fear of failure and lowering the bar to make sure we can succeed has become too much of the norm.

It is time to revert back to our childhood! It is time to play without fear and bask in the glory of the successes we lived out in the minds of our childhood selves. Raise the bar and live in a time of Great Expectations. It is time to once again reach for the stars instead of keeping our feet planted on the ground where we try to control our performances by being watered-down, "safe" athletes.

In order to truly have a memorable season, a season of no regrets, there has to be high expectations. We need to stretch ourselves. It is time to once again let our feet leave the ground and BELIEVE that we can reach new heights, and turn a deaf ear to the mumblings around us that try to stifle our flight.

"Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson, Author

My bad...

I had the opportunity to watch parts of a softball tournament last weekend and a player from one of the St. Louis teams made a comment that brought back memories from my own playing days. The comment, "My bad." A once prevalent saying amongst teammates has fallen by the wayside. The comment is so simplistic, but shares so much about the person speaking it.

A ball hit to short, fielded and thrown high to 1st base. The first baseman jumps with the ball barely nicking the glove and carrying on to the fence. First basemen runs down the ball, gets it back in the circle, and simply says, "My bad." That's right....the first basemen says it. It is a concept that needs to be renewed. Was it technically the first basemen's fault the play wasn't made, no, but by taking responsibility it helps the thrower of the errant toss relax and continue to play. Some argue that you should not take responsibility for a bad play if it isn't your fault. I like to look at the bigger picture. A simple statement may diffuse the emotions of the person who really fell short allowing them to play more focused. The person taking responsibility may work harder to come up with those difficult plays helping out their teammate and their team later on.

It is funny how seemingly little things spread throughout a team, good and bad. Once one person steps up and takes responsibility for themselves or maybe even someone else, I believe it will spread like wildfire. People take responsibility for their play and everyone else rallies around them instead of grinding the mistake into their teammate who already feels bad.

If you agree, I hope you will put this line of thinking into practice. If you totally disagree all I can say is, "my bad."

It's You that Makes Me Great!

Heat of battle all around,
What will be my fate?
Whether I am up or down
it's you that makes me great!

Your cheers I hear above it all.
You bring out my best traits.
And when its time to play ball
it's you that makes me great!

So when we celebrate as we should,
trophy held high at State.
know it's because together we stood
and you helped make me great!

--BGC--

What Builds Your Confidence?

The question I posed to many athletes, "What builds your confidence?" It is a question that didn't require too much time for answers to pour out. Here are some of the common answers:
* Being prepared
* Parents in the stands
* Being in the "zone"
But, the number one answer given was, "The support and cheers of my teammates."

Ironically most people feel that their teammates support is important for their confidence, but individuals fail to give their all to support their teammates to offer them that same confidence. A change in mentality must occur in order to create the best environment for the team. Again, it comes down to choosing to be a little less selfish and a bit more of a servant. Think of this scenario, all of the players on a team are most concerned with cheering on and supporting their teammates. What would that do for the teammates? What would that do for the individual? My guess is that if everyone chose to do their absolute best supporting their teammates, they would receive the same in turn. What would a game be like if each player gave their unbridled support to each teammate from start to finish? What would a season be like? Make it a goal to find out.

"The most important thing in good leadership is truly caring. The best leaders in any profession care about the people they lead, and the people who are being led know when the caring is genuine and when it's faked or not there at all. I was a demanding coach, but my players knew that I cared for them." Dean Smith, former North Carolina Men's Basketball Coach

If it was all about Me

I would be so proud of all I've done
Say "Look at me and how fast I run!"
I'd show the world I'm strong and free
If it was all about me.

I would always swing for the fence.
shake off pain without a wince.
Work hard for what my stats should be
If it was all about me

I'd say, "I had a fantastic game!"
and, "I wish my teammates could say the same."
I would love standing out for all to see
If it was all about me

But, being my best and giving my heart
to help my TEAM stand apart
Lifting my TEAM higher than the trees
is what I choose my role to be

I compete and train to reach OUR goal
Pushing each other to fulfill our roles
"Join me, join me!" is my plea
that's what I choose my role to be

Preparing together to make the TEAM great
With everyone's eyes focused on STATE.
Working together I'm sure you'll agree
Is better than making it all about me.

--BGC--

Cause and Effect

I have recently been thinking about cause and effect. Doesn't sound like your run of the mill thought, but after doing some reading, this concept keeps spinning around in my head.

So many times we sit around to see what is going to happen. We are in a game and we get stuck in the worlds of "Hope" and "Wonder." How many of us have had a thought similar to, "I hope this happens, so that we win," or, "If this would have happened, I wonder if it would have made a difference." Many times we sit back and react to situations as they occur. We let things play themselves out and we just deal with the effects. What if we were to change our thoughts and practices from dealing with the effects from causes we just allow to happen, and begin being the causes?

If we could be the cause, then we could have greater control of the effects. Here is a situation: we practice 1st and 3rd defense. We are focused and practice every possible scenario. We are prepared when we meet this challenge in a game. In most games the offense is considered to be in control. They force the defenses hand. Turn it around and give the control to the defense because of their hard work and preparation and now the defense causes the offense to make a mistake or play the guessing game as to what the defense will do.

Why wait around and see what is going to happen when you can play a major role in narrowing down or predicting the outcome? We place ourselves in control, which greatly increases the self-confidence of the individual and the confidence of the team. I have seen teams that were losing, but you would never know it. Their presence was one of confidence and even though their opponent was winning, the opponent played with fear. The opponent is now playing not to lose rather than to win, which greatly enhances the chances of the team playing with confidence.

Choose to be the "cause," choose confidence in any and every situation.

"Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson, Author

Training through Discipline

When most young people think of the word "discipline" a shutter goes over them. Immediately thoughts of being grounded or parents getting on them, pop into their heads. Hopefully, after reading this post you will have a different outlook on discipline.

Here is a dictionary definition of discipline:
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
dis·ci·pline (dĭs'ə-plĭn) Pronunciation Key n.
1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.

These definitions should bring a positive light. Discipline can come from many different angles, I probably should say "will come from many angles." As individuals we are going to need to decide how we are going to respond to discipline.

Self-discipline is very important. Individuals need to be able to train themselves physically an mentally. It all starts with attitude. No one can make choices for you. Coaches will discipline as well. A coaches role is to help players improve physically and mentally in order to make the team better. Sometimes that includes helping a player, or players, refocus. What the individual players do with that discipline is completely up to them.....again, attitude! Finally, discipline may also come from fellow players. This may be the most beneficial or the most difficult discipline. If a teammate is helping you out with a drill or concept to make you better, they are helping your discipline. If a teammate is confronting you, hopefully in a positive manner, because of a destructive behavior, you have to decide if you are going to be mature and do what is best for yourself and your team, or you can be immature and damage relationships and the team. Again...attitude!

Discipline is necessary in order to be successful. Train to produce more refined skills. Train to produce moral and mental improvement. Most importantly, train yourself to think about your attitude. Keep it in check and the decisions you make will not only benefit you, but it will strengthen your team.

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

Salt and Light

This post is going to come from a little different angle. I hope that most people know that I am first and foremost a Christian. I also believe that the greatest example of leadership comes from Jesus Christ himself. The scripture below was used in a sermon my preacher gave last Sunday. The scripture is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and it has great implications of leadership. Here is the scripture:

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

I have mentioned more than once that leaders make or break teams. As a leader do you choose to be salt? Do you choose to be the one that helps make all of the ingredients of a team stand out? A leader who is negative, unenthusiastic, and passive has lost their saltiness, and we can see from the scripture above what happens when we lose our saltiness.

The example of the city on a hill and the light on a stand are similar. Are you a shining light that draws teammates near, that helps them see clearly the goals of the team, that serves them when they are in need? Or...are you the bowl that stifles the light making the journey cloudy and causing your teammates to stumble in the dark?

Leaders have a choice. Be salty and let your light shine, not to be the center of attention, but to bring out the best in those around you!

Nothing's Impossible

"That's impossible!" Something that I have heard more times than I can count, especially in the realm of athletics. The statement is very TRUE. It is true because our mind makes it true. We have already set a limit on what we can and can't do. The statement usually comes up when playing a formidable opponent. For example, I coached a team who ended up playing the previous year's state champ. The game was lost before we even showed up to play. Players began saying, "at least we made it this far, and we have had a good season..." Our bodies have a habit of conforming to our minds.

Team leaders and captains have to fully believe they can achieve their goals. Players on a team look up to their leadership to set the tone. Players on a team will live up to the expectations of their leadership. If the team leaders have a horrible and/ or defeated attitude, it will infiltrate the rest of the team.

I have added a clip from "Facing The Giants." The clip has a good message, "Nothing is Impossible." It also shows how important the leader is to his team and his coach. I hope you enjoy the clip.

Leadership Development: Generations Past & Present

This post is mostly geared toward coaches, but I would be very interested to hear what parents and players think about it.

Many coaches believe that finding well prepared leaders is becoming harder and harder. Some coaches and researchers believe that it has to do with the changes over time. My generation and those prior will remember spending time after school and summer days out at the park or the ballfield. No parents, just neighborhood kids getting together to play baseball, basketball, soccer, etc. Many leadership skills were developed those days. Kids would pick the teams, make the rules, and resolve their own conflicts. Those times are no longer with us.

Today's athletes do not get the same advantage of developing leadership skills early. Not many parents will allow their kids to head off to a park on their own in today's world. In order to ensure that kids will still have an outlet for energy and sport, parents have formed many leagues or activities for their kids. What has happened is that kids are now in an adult dominated environment. The adults pick the teams, umpire the games, tell the kids where to play, and so on. This has decreased the amount of players that come into programs with "natural" leadership ability.

I am far from saying that parents are disabling their kids, nor am I saying that they should allow their kids to go off to the park unsupervised. I know that I wouldn't consider letting my son run around on his own. What I am saying is that, as a society, we have found ways to allow our children to play in safe, supervised environments, but have not found a way to supplement for the loss of leadership and problem solving situations. Coaches, parents, and those that work with young athletes need to train them as well as give them opportunities to make decisions and problem solve. Many athletes want to be leaders. They want to step up and help move a team past its potential. They just do not know how to do it. We need to feed their hunger to lead and not assume that they know what we are talking about when we ask them to lead.

My plan for Helias is to put a leadership training program in place so that our leadership base will reciprocate year to year. Many coaches believe that a team with great talent and no leadership travels a shorter distance than a team of talented athletes with great leadership. I am among those coaches.

"To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour." Winston Churchill

That's Not My Responsibility.....or is it?

Recently I spoke to a team about Team Leaders. Leaders are athletes who are looked up to by their teammates for one reason or another. This leads me to this.......Leaders have a very important responsibility. Leaders on a team have much more than themselves to think about. They did not ask for the responsibility, but it is theirs none the less. What leaders do with this responsibility has a major effect on how the team performs.

If you are an athlete that is a leader, or if you are training to be a leader on a team in the future, take some time to think about the responsibility. Leading is more work than honor. Good leaders are humble and work to make the team the best it can be. Team leaders may be put in the spotlight at times, but they should not be concerned with getting themselves in the spotlight. Be more concerned with helping to resolve problems among teammates, encouraging, motivating, and communicating with the coaches so that everyone is on the same page. Develop your leadership ability through books, videos, other leaders, and any other means that are available to you. These skills will stay with you well past your individual sport and you, along with those you come in contact with, will be better for it.

"Leadership is one of the most observed and least understood phenomena on earth." James MacGregor Burns, Leadership Author

Relax...Laugh a little

I spent last weekend in Louisiana. I had the opportunity to speak to the West Ouachita High School Softball Team. We spoke about the power of positive thinking, the importance of Team, the responsibility of team leaders, and the need to compete. The girls were very receptive. Heads were nodding, questions were answered, and we even had bouts of laughter. Speaking to the WOHS Softball team reminded me of two things: 1) I love talking about softball and empowering teams and individuals to be better players and teammates. 2) There are so many personalities on a team that can make a Team enjoyable to be around. I would like to write on the latter.

Softball is a sport that teaches so many valuable lessons. One that I hope I never forget is that the Team is made up of very different and unique people. Athletes need to be pressed to be their best and they need to be prepared for game situations, but they also need to learn to relax. There are many tense times, but if every minute of every day is that way, players will soon burn out and forget why they even play the game.

There was more than one moment when the WOHS Softball team reminded me of this. They had just finished winning a game played partially in rainy conditions, miserable by most people's standards. I wondered whether they would come in to listen to me, some unknown person, with a "let's get this over with attitude." But, they listened, laughed, and were high-spirited. Most teams have at least one or more players who just say the right thing at the right time to make everyone cut-up laughing. To some coaches there is no place for laughing and having a "good" time, but I think there is something to be said about laughing, relaxing, and enjoying time with teammates.

Everyone's definition of "fun" is different. My definition is as follows: Fun- having the ability at the end of the day to say that "my team and I did our very best," and being proud of each other for the accomplishments, all the while being excited to come back and do it better tomorrow. As a coach I choose to motivate and encourage in a positive manner as much as I can. When practices get hard a little encouragement can go a long way. And, there needs to be time to relax and laugh a little. There is no reason a little light-heartedness can't be a part of a team sport. Enjoy your teammates and experiences shared, four years is a shorter amount of time than you think!

It doesn't matter if you are training dolphins or motivating your team members, positive reinforcement is the way to go. You don't see trainers at Sea World beating the dolphins with baseball bats when they don't jump through the right hoops. You see them, instead, giving them little fish when they do jump through. Why can't we remember that? Steve Chandler, Leadership Author

Is it OK to compete?

Many experts believe that one of the biggest struggles in female athletics is competitiveness. Male and female athletes have different outlooks, and society itself hinders women from being true competitors.

In her book Reach for the Summit, Tennessee Women's Basketball Coach Pat Summit says, "I've known a lot of women who were reluctant to compete. They either wanted to be liked, or, worse, they felt it was unladylike. I've spent the better part of my career trying to convince them otherwise." Sociologists and other experts on this issue state that men and women have different relationship structures. Men have a hierarchical vertical structure. They are taught to compete against each other to work their way to the top. Women have a web-like structure. The focus for women is to develop strong relationships, not to work their way above one another. Due to these social "norms" females tend to risk social consequences when they compete and strive to separate themselves from the pack.

Former collegiate coach and administrator Kathy DeBoer states, "The males achieved their sense of self from their position in the hierarchy, the females from their position in the web. For males, standing was determined by what they did and how well they did it - performance. It was only peripherally associated with their ability to connect and maintain relationships. For females, standing was determined by their ability to connect and maintain relationships -- acceptance. It was only peripherally associated with their ability to what they did and how well they did it -- performance. The web mindset, defining the world in the framework of connection, does not provide for a legitimate opponent. Head-to-head competition is discouraged, as is self-promotion and one-upsmanship. For women, competing against another becomes a somewhat clandestine and often dangerous affair. Assertiveness must be balanced with cordiality, achievement with appropriate humility, and victory always tempered by acknowledgment of unworthiness."

After all of my research on this topic it seems as though the cards are stacked against the truly competitive female athlete. Although I do not believe that there is a fool-proof solution, I have found that there are many coaches that have created a successful, competitive environment in female athletics. Coaches like Pat Summit, University of Tennessee Women's Basketball Coach who has 7 national titles, and Anson Dorrance, UNC Women's Soccer Coach who has won 19 of the last 26 National Championships, say that they regularly come across athletes, when recruiting, who are looked down upon and/or shunned because of their athletic competitiveness. Those are the athletes they recruit. Now, these college coaches have teams full of competitors which makes their team environment conducive to competition. What do we do at the high school level?

After looking at other coaches’ strategies and writings from sociologists, there are some things we will do at Helias to promote a healthy, competitive environment. First and foremost the athletes will be talked to regarding a lot of what has been said in this post. We will discuss the importance of competing as a means to make the team and each individual player the best they can be. The team needs to hear that just doing what is expected by peers or doing just enough to "fit in" puts limits on the team. Practices will have elements that require healthy competition. Girls will be given an environment where it is acceptable to be the best, without suffering negative comments or being shunned by teammates. It is a lofty goal and a difficult challenge, but it can be done if the leadership of the team is onboard. Like it was discussed in previous posts, the leadership of the team is going to bear a lot of responsibility in determining how well this team will function and perform. I have high expectations of myself and the team leaders, and I believe building a healthy, competitive environment at Helias High School is more than a possibility!

An environment like I wrote about above is important, but it will not solve all of the problems. A true competitor must be courageous and willing to compete no matter what. That is a tall order for a high school girl. As an individual, a player need to know that what they are doing is right and that they are making the team and themselves better no matter the mutterings of those who have settled for mediocrity. You have already read that athletes with competitive natures are sought after by the best of college coaches, and I will not tolerate any comments or actions to the contrary. High school athletics is not all about making friends, it is about learning respect, loyalty, hard work, working as a part of a group, and growing through both success and defeat. All positive social aspects are cherries on top of the sundae. I hope that at Helias we can have it all, but stalling exceptional athletes at an average line set by society or by peers will not have any place in our softball program!

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." Ambrose Redmoon, American Philosopher

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Eleanor Roosevelt

A Parent's Perspective: A Parent's Role

This is geared toward the Helias Softball Parents, but I would appreciate feedback from anyone else that is interested as well, including Helias Players.

Parent's please comment to this post regarding the following question(s):
What do you think your role, or a parent's role, is in a high school athletic program? Or, if you would rather, what would you like your role to be?

I, and other coaches, will express expectations of parents from a coaches perspective in the future, but I thought this is a good way to give parents a forum. There will be more Parent Perspective questions in the future.

Natural Talent vs. Achieved Talent

My youngest brother made a comment on my post suggesting an article regarding natural talent vs. achieved talent. Great idea little brother.

There are so many different thoughts as to what makes the best athletes....those where skills come easy, or those who work hard to achieve what they have. Some say that athletes just can't work hard to get taller, run faster, and things of the like. It is genetics. They don't say that athletes can't work hard to perform better, just there are certain aspects that they have no control over. Some say that most athletes with natural ability tend to get lazy in training because things just come too easy to them. This causes lack of focus, bad fundamentals, and a cocky, not confident, attitude.

I say ability is important, but attitude, mental preparation, and willingness to learn outweigh natural talent AND achieved talent. I will not be sucked into the debate whether one is greater than the other because there would be too many generalizations made.

I coached an athlete in Louisiana who had more than one person's share of talent, but she still wanted to be the best softball player she could be. She worked just as hard if not harder than her teammates and was seen as a positive leader on the team. On that same team I had an athlete who struggled to perform tasks. She was slower than most, had a hard time fielding, and her bat was slow, but she had an absolute passion for the game and she was young, so I figured the akwardness of movement and her coordination would all come together with age. (I began coaching this athlete when she was in Jr. High). Her Senior year she ended up making all of the post season teams and turned out to be a fantastic softball player for the school.

There is also the flip side. The athlete that has tons of ability and grumbles because of the bad team they are on. The player that yells at their teammates instead of assisting them to get better. The player who at the end of the game determines whether it was a good game or not based on how they did, not how the team did. Then there is my least favorite athlete to deal with. The player that does not have natural ability and does not work hard because she believes that she is better than she really is.

Natural talent vs. achieved talent gives me the piture of the two butting heads. Most coaches do not get to choose a team full of athletes that contain all natural athletes or all achieved athletes. So, instead of natural talent vs. achieved talent, a statement of opposites in conflict, I choose natural talent and achieved talent, a statement where the two work together with a common purpose.

Where am I on the Totem Pole?

One of the things that most of us struggle with are bouts of selfishness. It is counter-intuitive to put others before ourselves. In this struggle it is easy to forget about where we really stand on the totem pole.

It is important that we stay away from thinking, "What I am doing only affects me. It shouldn't be anyone elses concern." This statement can be said regarding a lot of things in which the severity differs: practice habits, school work, behavior in the classroom and at home, smoking, alcohol, drugs...you get the idea. What we do and say has a rippling effect. Everyone has thrown a rock into a body of water. The individual is the spot where the rock hits the water, the size of the rock is our behaviors and actions. It doesn't matter how big or small the rock is, there are still ripples, and those ripples can travel quite a distance.

Anyone who has played for me has heard me say this at one time or another, and will probably hear me say it again, "As individuals we are not at the top of the totem pole. Everything we do effects others." At Helias our totem pole should look similar to this (from top to bottom): God, Family, Helias High School, Helias Softball Team, then Ourselves. We represent a whole lot more than just ourselves. There really is no choice in where we truly lie on the totem pole, although many are selfish and put themselves on the top which only leads to a certain fall for the individual and ultimately the team.

If we have a servant attitude, putting others above ourselves, there are few limits as to what a team can accomplish.

"Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others." Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric

Helias Softball Team Prayer

God help us to be a TEAM ribbed with the steel of Your Holy Spirit...to not flinch when the battle is fiercest..to not acquiesce, nor compromise, nor fade when the enemy rages.

God help us to be a TEAM that can't be bought, bartered, or badgered by the enemy, to be those who will pay the price, make the sacrifice, stand the ground, and hold the torch high.

God help us to be a TEAM obsessed with the principles true to Your word, to be stripped of self-seeking and yearn for security...Help us to be a TEAM that will pay any price for freedom and go any length for truth.

God help us to be a TEAM delivered from mediocrity, to be a TEAM with vision high, pride low, faith wide, love deep, and patience long...to be a TEAM that dares to march to the beat of a distant drummer, to be a TEAM who will not surrender principles of truth in order to accommodate their peers.

God help us to be a TEAM more interested in scars than medals, more committed to conviction than convenience, a TEAM that will give their life for the eternal, instead of indulging their lives for a moment in time.

God help us to be a TEAM that is fearless in the face of danger, calm in the midst of pressure, bold in the midst of opposition.

God help us to be a TEAM that will pray earnestly, work long, preach clearly, and wait patiently.

God help us to be a TEAM whose walk is by faith, whose behavior is by principle, whose dreams are in heaven, and whose book is the Bible.

God help us to be a TEAM that is equal to the task. This is the TEAM we want to be, help us be that TEAM.

-Adapted from the writing of an Unknown Author

Player's Perspective: Being a Clutch Player

This is a player's perspective entry by Lindsey LeCuru. I asked her to consider the following questions and write a response from her perspective:

What is your definition of a clutch player?

I think a clutch player is someone that the whole team can rely on to do their job, and that teammates can look up to in difficult situations. Being a clutch player doesn't mean you have to get big hits every time you're at the plate, it's the key hits that matter. A sacrifice bunt that moves a runner from second to third is just as good as hitting a home run in some cases, because then the next batter might just get a hit to score that person in. A great coach once told me "I want you to cheer for them when they strike out as loud as you would when they get a home run." I think that's a good piece of advice, because not everyone is going to get a hit every game, but if your teammates help you when you're down you're more likely to get a hit the next time rather than striking out.

When you are in a clutch situation, what is going on in your head? What gives you your confidence?

Personally, I just try to concentrate on the ball. Not anything going on in the stands or the field. I just do what my coach tells me and try my best. My confidence comes from me knowing that I'm going to do the best I can no matter what it takes.

If you do not succeed in a clutch situation, does it destroy you or encourage you to be even better the next time? Explain your thoughts.

If I would happen to strike out instead of hitting the game winning run in, I try to stay positive instead of bringing the whole team down. Sure, I might be upset but I try to take that and build that frustration into determination to get a hit the next time.

If the game is on the line, do you want to be the one at the plate, or the one that the ball is hit to? Why?

I think it could be either way. If you're in the field and you make the winning catch or you throw the person out to win the game, it's a feeling like no other. But offensively if you get the winning hit is awesome too. I think either way you're going to have the same amount of pressure to do good. You should just try your best and do the things you were taught and hope it works out in the end. If you happen to mess up it's ok. One mistake is not going to change your softball career, even thought most people think it will. Just have fun and don't worry about what people will think. Can't wait for HHS SOFTBALL '08!! :)

-Lindsey LeCuru

Player's Perspective: Playing with Confidence

This is a player's perspective entry by McKenzie Hamacher. I asked her to consider the following questions and write a response from her perspective:

What gives you confidence when you are in a game?

What gives me confidence in the game is all the hard work and hours I spend in the off-season preparing myself for the upcoming season. Knowing that I have done this gives me the confidence and desire to be the best that I can be. Also, the support of my teammates and positive atmosphere of the crowd/coaches gives me extra support.

What type of demeanor do you try to have when you are on the field in order to keep yourself and your team positive and confident?

I always try to keep calm, positive, and have a confident demeanor during the game, even when things are not going my way. For example, whenever the umpires aren’t making the calls that I want I try to stay positive and adjust my game and attitude. Don’t wear your emotions on your sleeve as it will filter into your game performance. One bad attitude on the field can tear a team apart in no time.

When you make a mistake during the game, how do you put it behind you so that it does not affect the rest of your game?

I always try to learn from my mistakes. During a game whenever I make an error/throw a bad pitch -- I have to move on and stay positive so that the next play/pitch can be successful. I never really put the mistake behind me, I just put it out of my mind until after the game where I can work on the problem and hopefully correct it. I feel that one mistake isn’t going to ruin a whole game, and you have to rely on the rest of your teammates to be supportive. You need to learn from your mistakes but don’t let it affect your game.

I think if we “all” work hard this season, stay focused on our goals and
find confidence in our game -- we will be successful in 2008! Go Helias
softball!!!

-McKenzie Hamacher

Player's Perspective: Role of a Leader

This is a player's perspective entry by Jill Rackers. I asked her to consider the following questions and write a response from her perspective:
What makes being a leader on a team difficult?
What, in your opinion, are the most important attributes of a leader?

I think that the most important thing a leader can do is lead by example on and off the field. No matter if you are sore, hurt, have a headache, losing the game, sitting on the bench, or what kind of mood they are in, they must stay positive. They also must respect the coach at all times and treat all players equally no matter what grade they are in or their level of ability. They have to be able to interact and get along with all personality types. They must also trust the coach and be able to talk to them about problems on the team, and know that he will take them seriously and try to help them out. For example, we need to take our workouts seriously so we can get better and stronger. A leader must encourage and push others on the team to do their best. They must have confidence in themselves and the other players on the team. Leaders must want to get better and want the team to succeed all the time.

Has any coach ever tried to develop you as a leader, if so how?

One of my summer coaches once made the comment, "If you are not up, the team is not up. Accept your role." This made me realize that other teammates were watching and followed my example. From then on I have always tried to stay enthusiastic and stay positive in order to encourage the rest of the team to do the same.

I am looking forward to next season and can't wait to start working out with the team. I LOVE SOFTBALL!!!!!!
-Jill Rackers

Player's Perspective: Personality of a Team

This is a player's perspective entry by Danielle Tobar. I asked her to consider the following questions and write a response from her perspective:
As a player the most difficult part of being on a team is……. And why?
In your opinion, what makes a team bad, dysfunctional, or one that does not play up to its ability or expectations?
In your opinion, what makes a team great and able to play up to and often beyond its ability or expectations?

I think that the hardest part of being on a team is balancing your desire to win between your team and yourself. Even though we all want to do well and show our skills, we also have to do what's best for the team. Sometimes a player must suffer for the good of the team no matter how much they resent the decisions made. I also think that eventually every player decides for themselves, as a teammate, and always chooses one or the other. Teammates know who plays for themselves and who plays for the team and that's a big part of a functional team. I think to be a good, winning team everyone has to be willing to give up their own glory. That's why teams are dysfunctional, when everyone is only looking out for themselves. I also think a team has problems when players can't take criticism or blame for mistakes. It's ok to say "sorry that was my fault," not "it was all the umpires or the catcher or runner's fault." I think that shows cocky-ness when you can't just admit you messed up. I think to play beyond expectations all players must do that. Also, cheering for fellow teammates is a big part. Showing unity both on and off the field creates a family. Everyone knows someone always has their back, and we can trust that everyone will do their part on the field.
-Danielle Tobar

Greatest Asset or Worst Enemy

When we tend to think about strengths and weaknesses of players we see lists such as: arm strength, bat speed, power, speed, fieldwork. If coaches are good then commitment, attitude, confidence, work ethic, all make the list as well. There is an item, a tool, that every athlete has that most people fail to look at.

Each and every person on a team, the coaches, players, parents, and fans included, all have a tool that is so powerful it can lead to either great success or the absolute downfall of a team. The tool I am referring to is the tongue.

Have you ever heard the crowd behind you cheering their loudest, your teammates standing and showing their support for you, and your coaches looking to you with the utmost confidence? How did you feel? Most people describe this situation as one that delivers a massive amount of energy, providing confidence to spare and clarity of mind.

Now, have you ever heard grumbling from the crowd because of a bad call, disagreement with a coach's decision, or a player making an error? Have you been at the plate and your teammates are consoling the batter before you who came into the dugout throwing a tantrum because they struck out? Have you been in a situation where the coach just hopes that the pitcher will walk a batter or that the defense will make a mistake so that the batter will make it to base? How did you feel? I would imagine you would feel completely drained. If you get sucked into the bitter talk that surrounds you, you may not even care what happens. If we had the choice of which scenario we were going to perform in, I am sure it would be an obvious one.

Most of the time we are so quick to speak without taking the time to filter our thoughts and emotions. Unfortunately it takes a lot of positive words to build a person up, but only one misplaced word to destroy a person. As an athlete it is easy to concentrate on what we can do physically to make ourselves and our team better. Physical readiness and training becomes much more beneficial, and even enjoyable at times, if you are operating in an environment of support, enthusiasm, trust, honesty, and loyalty. Choose to use your tongue to encourage, build confidence, and lovingly hold accountable those on your team. Choose NOT to complain, put down, discourage, sulk, or use any words or tone that would tear down your teammates, coaches, parents, or administration, as they are all part of the team.

The book of Proverbs, in the Bible, has many great words of wisdom. Many of the proverbs are focused on our speech. Here is one of my favorites:

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" Proverbs 12:18

Choose to bring healing through words of strength, support and encouragement. You will be amazed at the difference it will bring to all facets of your team!

Building Confidence

Confidence...I have heard all sorts of comments regarding confidence. Things like, "She just isn't a confident person," or, "He is our go to player. He has all the confidence in the world." Confidence is not wholly a personality trait. Some people do not have to work as hard to be self-confident, but there is no rule that says that you either have it or you don't.

Confidence is BELIEVING that our ability and preparation is greater than, or at least equal to, the task at hand. So many times we find athletes with all of the ability in the world, but in pressure situations they crack. It is not just "bad luck" that causes this. The dedicated athlete thinks that if they just practice harder things will turn around. Most likely the problem is not with the physical training, but with the mental training. So, the key is to help the athletes focus their attention on building belief in their abilities. Making that the highest priority while at the same time minimizing the situation. It is easy to have confidence when nothing is on the line. Players minds become over-complicated when everything is on the line. Does the player's ability change based on the situation? NO! The only thing that changes is their mindset. Players have to get to a state where their belief in themselves overrides any situation they may be in.

An important step in building confidence is to Focus on Strengths. Every athlete has strengths, both physical and mental. Focusing one's mind on all of the talents and abilities one has to offer puts the mind in a state prepared for success. The mind is a powerful instrument. If a payer goes to the plate thinking, "Don't strike out, don't strike out," striking out is what they are thinking about and there is a good chance it will happen. If a player thinks "Hit the ball up the middle, hit the ball up the middle," the focus of their thoughts is getting a hit and although they cannot control the result, the player can control putting good CONFIDENT swings on the ball. Take time to focus on strengths before every athletic performance.

Another important step is to Focus on Past Successes. Every athlete has had a performance, or performances where everything was clicking. Some people say not to live in the past. While I agree, I think the past is a powerful tool. Taking past successes and living them out again in your mind reminds a player of what they are capable of. This helps to build confidence as well as giving players a reference point of success. If they were successful then, then why not now!

Emphasize Quality Practices. Practice for practice sake is a waste of time. It is exhausting mentally and physically if practices are made to fit a time schedule. Practice is a time to emphasize fundamentals, fine tune skills, learn, but most importantly to increase teamwork and self-confidence. There should always be a purpose and a plan to each practice. Does that mean no more repetitious drills, NO, repetition is key to success. It means not continuing a drill when players have shown that they are flawless. It also means not stopping a drill that players have not yet completed the task on because the allotted time for that drill is up. Quality practices ensure that players are prepared when it is game time.

Another way to build confidence in a player is Praise. Praise is a great tool to build confidence. Each coach has to play to his personality, but praise goes a long way. It needs to be said though that there is a time and place to confront players sternly. But, if players feel that the coaches are always on them and that the coaches never say anything positive.....that players confidence is going to be down, and when the team needs the player to perform, they may not have the confidence in themselves to succeed.

It is important that the development of confidence take place in every player. If you know of any ways to build confidence, or if you have something that helps you to be confident, please share it with the rest of us.

True Commitment

Read the following story that was printed in Sports Illustrated and watch the video that goes along with it. I am sure that you will be touched by the story itself, but I want to relate the Hoyts' story to commitment. I will make my comments after the story and video.

A Father's Love

[From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly]
I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay For their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots.

But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.

Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in Marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a Wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and Pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.

Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back Mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. On a bike. Makes Taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?

And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life.
This love story began in Winchester , Mass. , 43 years ago, when Rick Was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him Brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.

"He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him And his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. ``Put him in an Institution.''

But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes Followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the Engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was Anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was told. ``There's nothing going on in his brain.''

"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a Lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed Him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his Head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? ``Go Bruins!'' And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the School organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want To do that.''

Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran More than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he Tried. ``Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. ``I was sore For two weeks.''

That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, It felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!''

And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly Shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.

``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a Single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few Years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then They found a way to get into the race Officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the Qualifying time for Boston the following year.

Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?''

How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he Was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick Tried.

Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii . It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud Getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you Think?

Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? ``No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with A cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.

This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best Time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes off the world Record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to Be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the Time.

``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.''

And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a Mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries Was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' One doctor told him, ``you probably would've died 15 years ago.'' So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.

Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass. , always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.

That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.

``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.''

And the video is below....




Too often commitment is related to the time and energy an individual spends to show that they are dedicated to the team. The Hoyts' story shows a greater, more appropriate definition of commitment. Dick Hoyt refers to himself as a "porker" with really no reason to change, but he became committed to getting into better shape. Dick did not make this commitment for any personal reason, but to serve his son. Dick was committed to do whatever it took to make his family better, to provide his son Rick the greatest joy he could offer him.

Commitment is dedicating one's self to do all that they can to make their team better. Pushing themselves past the pain of off-season workouts and practices, so that when their team needs them most they are prepared both mentally and physically to perform. When every member of the team is committed, limits are stretched, the impossible becomes possible, and championships are won.

Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. Vince Lombardi

Team First vs. Me First

The trend in athletics today is typically one of selfishness and individual attention. There is rarely an exception to the rule, but in the recent Cotton Bowl I was pleasantly surprised. I am always impressed by athletes who, when put in the spotlight, can put the focus on their teammates. Tony Temple of the Missouri Tigers football team is one such player. I found myself in awe of his post-game interview comments. Not only did he take the focus off of himself and put it on his teammates, but he also thanked God. Here are the post game interview notes:

Q. Tony, do you have any words to describe how big the holes were? The Arkansas coach said you were running on air.

TONY TEMPLE: Man, I can't give enough credit to my offensive line. First of all, I want to thank God. I want to thank God first of all before I get started. That offensive line did a great job. You saw it in their eyes all game. I just continued looking at them, saying, "Let's go, let's go. You can't say enough about them.


Q. Tony, a year ago you came pretty close to getting MVP trophy after another great game. Compare and contrast how different this feeling is compared to a year ago.

TONY TEMPLE: Well, definitely we got the W, and that's what matters the most. I mean, I can have all the records in the world, but if my team's not winning I don't care about the records. I'm just so happy that we can walk out of here. We leave a great legacy going on here. I'm just happy that we got the win.


Q. Tony, about being carried off the field, what happened? Did you tweak it even more going into the end zone? Can you describe the feeling of having those guys carry you off?

TONY TEMPLE: That's the definition of our family. Our team is a family atmosphere out there. They don't want our guys to go down. Like my offensive line, they've been supporting me and helping me this whole year. I mean, yeah, I tweaked it a little bit going in (smiling).


Q. I saw you whisper to your coach, who is Dicky Maegle. How does it feel to be in such legendary company?

TONY TEMPLE: Man, it's a great feeling. Just happy that our team won, we got the opportunity to do that. But, I mean, honestly, it really comes down to Chase and my wide receivers and my tight ends. They've been setting it up all year for this. Like coach said, Arkansas, they came with a great plan to stop our passing game. I'm just doing my job, doing what I'm supposed to do. That's what it comes down to.


A "Me First" attitude is much easier to find. Below is a video of Hope Solo, a goalie on the U.S. Women's Soccer Team. Hope was told that she would not start a game in the last World Cup, a game in which the team ended up losing. Her tirade after the game is an unfortunate, but fantastic example of a selfish player. Watch the video and see the difference between Tony Temple's comments and Hope Solo's comments.





As a player, or coach, which player would you rather have on your team? Tony Temple gave credit and praise to his offensive line. His appreciation was heard loud and clear by those men on the line, and I am sure that they would work even harder for the team, and even Tony's, success after hearing his praises of their work. Hope Solo questioned her coaches publicly and made derogatory comments about a teammate in a very public forum. These kind of actions are severely damaging to a team.

Tony says it well when he describes his team as a family. Teammates should always be looking after each other. Will there be disagreements....sure there will be, but teammates functioning as a family find ways to address issues privately, so as not to negatively affect the entire team. Tony is a great present day example of a true "Team First" player.


This is the struggle every leader faces: how to get members of the team who are driven by the quest for individual glory to give themselves over wholeheartedly to the group effort. In other words, how to teach them selflessness. Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the "me" for the "we." Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers Coach

MythBusters: Myth #3 Helias Softball Will Win a State Championship in 2008

This post is a tad selfish, as it relates to a team that I work with, but whether you are part of Helias softball or not this post may still hold some relevance for you.


What does it take to win a state championship? What are the necessary components a team must have in order to be a championship team?

The Physical:

Pitching- It is essential to be able to put the ball over the plate, but the person behind the ball has to be more than a strike throwing machine. They have to be smart, resilient, persistent, calm, and have the confidence of a center-stage performer.....because on the softball field, the pitcher is center-stage. Of course a pitcher's best friend is her...

Defense- Players in every position willing to put in the time in practice, working through repetitious drills with enthusiasm. Players who when the game is on the line are thinking, "Hit the ball to me!" Not because they do not have confidence in their teammates, but because they have the utmost confidence in their ability to get the job done. Players not looking to make the flashy plays that everyone will talk about, but the routine plays that occur much more frequently and really make a difference in the game. Defense is the foundation of every team and is supported by the...

Offense- Nothing relaxes a defense more than runs on the board. In order to have a great offense, players, who once they step in the batters box, have to be willing to battle EVERY pitch. There can be no time off at the plate. Focus, patience, and doing whatever they can to help the team is of the utmost importance. If a player goes down swinging, which will happen no matter how good of a hitter you are, that player needs to stow the helmet and bat and cheer on the teammate that follows them. Sulking over a bad at bat is selfish and does the player and the team no good. If a player hits a homerun, they celebrate with their teammates from homeplate to the dugout and then they immediately start cheering on their teammate at the plate. Again, a continual celebration is selfish, it takes away from the teammate at the plate, and it may also be seen as showing up the pitcher. A championship team battles to win every inning no matter what the score.

The Mental:

The only way all of the physical categories above can work together is if the team is mentally conditioned. Without a trained mind and a team-first attitude, softball becomes a selfish individual sport where players are more concerned about how they are doing individually over how the team is doing. Players working together for a common purpose, for common goals, is a must. Players who are mentally mature enough to know that, although they cannot control the result of any game, they can control their preparation, and more often than not the more prepared , mentally and physically prepared, team has a lot better chance of achieving the outcome they desire.

So, will Helias Softball win a state championship?
To call our pitching, "average high school pitching," would be an insult. We have the ability in the circle to take us as far as we want to go. There will be good speed in the outfield and sure hands on the infield. The power of the offense and speed on the base paths will be matched by few. There are 7 months before the season officially begins. Will leaders arise? Will the players know the importance of preparing mentally? Will the proper attitude be in place well before the season begins? All questions that remain to be answered, but as for my own personal opinion...I say, "Yes." Yes to each and every question.


"Two elements are necessary for effective teamwork. First, the individuals who constitute the team must share a common objective, one that is important enough to them that they are willing to make sacrifices in order to achieve it. Second, team members need to care about each other in a way that eventually leads to selflessness and a common concern for others on the team." Tom Osborne, former Nebraska Football Coach

MythBusters: Myth #3 Helias Softball Will Win a State Championship in 2008.....Plausible

MythBusters: Myth #2 The Sum is Greater than the Individual Parts

There is an old story about a horse pull that took place at a county fair many years ago. The winning horse was able to pull 4 tons while the second place horse pulled about 3.75 tons. The owner of each of the horses decided to see what the horses could pull together. Most people thought that the result was going to be obvious, 7.75 tons. Everyone was shocked when the two horses pulled 22 tons. The sum of their efforts far outweighed their individual parts. That is synergy.

Synergy (from the Greek syn-ergo, συνεργός meaning working together, circa 1660) refers to the phenomenon in which two or more discrete influences or agents acting together create an effect greater than that predicted by knowing only the separate effects of the individual agents.

It turns out that synergy does not apply only to horses. Teams have benefited from this idea of synergy as well. Hollywood has dramatized this in many classic movies.

Hoosiers: a small town basketball team plays for a state championship against a bigger school with bigger stronger and faster individual athletes. The small town team because of their commitment to each other and the solidarity that they formed through perseverance, prevailed.

Remember the Titans: A football team has to deal with many social issues of the time because now black students and white students are placed together at the same school. Thanks to a tough coach and time to truly get to know each other the team builds bonds that push past the racial barriers that have been put up by their town and even their own families. They share a common goal and push each other to finish a perfect season. Even though in the movie the perfect season discussed is one with no losses, the real perfection is that a bunch of teens were able to put the chaos that surrounded them aside, to not listen to what people were saying around them, and make the team what they wanted it to be....a place where everyone cared about their teammates because they were their teammates, not because they were black or white.

"These are movies, not real life," is what you might be thinking. Is real life so different? As a player, can you think of conflicts that took place all throughout a season that damaged the season beyond repair? Can you also think of a team where everything just clicked and it seemed like you could do the impossible? Unfortunately most of us can think of more teams that fell to conflict than the teams that we just felt honored to be on. Why is that? Is it just personality conflicts, or do you just have to get lucky to be on one of those great teams?

Great teams do not happen by chance! It takes players and coaches working hard to make the team great. It takes support from parents, administration, and fans to make the team great. Great teams have leaders on the team that the other players respect. Great teams look forward to sweating together at practice in order to make their team, their teammates, and themselves better. Great teams share common goals that they must stretch themselves to reach, rather than settling for goals that take little effort to attain. Great teams form bonds that reach beyond acquaintance on a team, but more like family: protecting, supporting, confronting, as needed. Essentially, great teams take hard work by every member.

Do not define "great team" by wins and losses. Do great teams tend to win more than they lose, yes, but at the end of the season you should not have to look at a record to know if the team you are on is great or not. If at the end of the day you can say that you and your teammates worked as hard as they could, you are on a great team. If at the end of the season you are sad, whether you won a championship or not, because you will not have the opportunity to be with your teammates everyday, you are on a great team. And, great teams accomplish much!

Now, back to synergy. I am sure everyone who is reading this has been at a place in their athletic life where they felt like they could do no wrong, everything is clicking. Imagine looking past the individual and being on a team in that zone. Outfielders coming up with incredible catches, undersized players hitting homeruns, clean-up batters squeezing in winning runs, non-starters encouraging their teammates from pre-game warm-ups to the end of the game, managers working behind the scene to make the team better, parents and fans cheering on the entire team, coaches respecting the players enough to help them become successful, a community that exudes sportsmanship and an attitude of service. That sounds like a team that far exceeds its individual parts. That is the picture of a team I want to be a part of.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Mythbusters: Myth #2 The Sum is Greater than the Individual Parts.....Confirmed!

MythBusters: Myth #1 The Best Teams are Made up of the Best Athletes

In the spirit of MythBusters, the television program on the Discovery Channel, I will be making a series of posts that relate to common myths that pertain to athletics.

In the United States, when we hear "Dream Team," most peoples' thoughts go directly to the United States Men Basketball Team. A group of men, mostly professional players from the NBA, assembled to do one thing, win gold. Here is the Roster of the 2004 Dream Team:

Carmelo Anthony
Carlos Boozer
Tim Duncan
Allen Iverson
LeBron James
Richard Jefferson
Stephon Marbury
Shawn Marion
Lamar Odom
Emeka Okafor
Amare Stoudemire
Dwayne Wade

No other team had a roster that could compare with the skill or athletic ability that the U.S. brought to the Olympic Games. Even with the best basketball athletes in the Olympics the U.S. Team had to settle for Bronze. They also lost three games which was more than all of the previous Dream Team losses from all of the previous Olympics combined.

Too often people predict a team's success or failure solely on the individual talents on the team. An AP article from the 2004 Olympics says it well:

"The Americans won't be the Olympic basketball champions for the first time since 1988, beaten by an Argentine team that lacks stars but simply knows how to play together better."

Don't get me wrong, as a coach I love working with great athletes. But, I refuse to keep a great athlete that has an attitude that is cancerous. I would much rather have an athlete who works hard and has an attitude that puts the team above themselves. Best case scenario is great athletes with great attitudes........but a team made up of individuals who truly support their teammates and push them to be the best they can be is a team that can be just as effective.

My Dream Team.
Team members: Players, Parents, Coaches, Administration, Student Body
When most people think of a team, they think only of players and coaches. There are many more members of a successful team. Central to a successful team is common goals. All members of the team must be committed and supportive of those goals.
Support and Loyalty.
Second guessing players, or coaches decisions, or parents motives tear away at the foundation of a solid team. Coaches are going to make decisions that are not going to be popular at times. Parents, players, administration, and fans need to support those decisions whether or not they agree with them. Players and parents grumbling about coaching decisions, coaches grumbling about players or lack of support from administration, or countless other negativity takes focus away from where it should be and feeds failure.
Team First Attitude
I love working with players who work hard and constantly encourage their teammates. The only way a team can be successful is if each individual is more concerned with how the team is doing rather than their own stats.
Celebrate the Little Things
In a sport like softball and baseball where there can be many pauses in the action, it is important to celebrate the little things. If a players bunts someone over, moves a runner, hits a sacrifice fly, etc., I encourage the team to celebrate like they hit a homerun. This keeps the atmosphere upbeat and positive while taking away the possibility of hitting a lull that can lead to drops in energy.

These are just some aspects of creating a true Dream Team. If you have any input, please comment.

Myth #1 The Best Teams are Made up of the Best Athletes.....Busted!