It's Not JUST a Game

Daren wrote a post about youth sports.  I LOVE it (and I’m actually not going to contradict any of his points;))! You should TOTALLY read it if you haven’t yet because it’s a great post.  You can read it here: http://publiclookin.blogspot.com/2013/10/guest-post-its-just-game.html

But to me, it’s not JUST a game.

It’s so much more.

Most of the time when I fill out the sports registration forms for the monsters I do NOT mark the coaching box at all.  The majority of the time I create my own box with an asterisk or two: *Will assist if needed*.  Even when I think to myself, “DON’T MARK A BOX.  BE A PARENT!!!” I receive an email that says, “Hey, I signed you up as my assistant. I hope you don’t mind.”

And, I don’t. I don’t mind because I love all of the little monsters.  During the season they become part of my family.  I see them almost as much as the monsters that destroyed my stomach and each one of them is special to me. I understand the importance of youth sports and would never want to rob any monster of the opportunity due to lack of volunteers because...

To me, it’s not just a game.

It’s a chance to encourage determination.  We have a big game tomorrow night (tonight as of this posting…GO CATS) and more than half of our team showed up at the batting cage for nearly THREE hours at an OPTIONAL practice that I didn’t even attend.   They are striving and working to be the best at what they do. What if we all had this type of determination at our place of employment or better yet, at being the best person we can be?

It’s a chance to build trust and teamwork.  One of my monsters was part of a team that taught the pitcher to run the ball to first base every time and it infuriated me. Not because I didn’t understand that it was easiest way to get the runner out at that age, but because it was telling the monsters not to trust their teammates (and as a lover of the game, I want them to learn the correct way to play)!   So many times in life the quickest, less complicated way to complete a task is to do it yourself. However, when you are part of a team, this strategy builds resentment and anger very quickly and certainly does not encourage teamwork.

Ahhh, teamwork!  We had one game that the monsters lost their minds and started to crumble on the field.  When I went out to huddle they were all pointing fingers at each other and blaming everyone other than themselves.  (I have 8-11 year old monsters on the team and sadly, this finger pointing starts young and never really ends as we age!)  I looked around the huddle and I asked if they had each made an error this year. I asked them if they had each struck out while up to bat this year.  Once they were quiet, I told them that you can’t point fingers because nobody intentionally messes up.  Everyone needs to support and encourage each other to be the best player and team we can be.  Teamwork and trust are hard to nurture, but they are necessary skills that are important the remainder of their lives.

It’s a chance to learn respect and independence.  At the beginning of the season there were monsters (MINE INCLUDED) that instinctively rolled their eyes at me when I attempted to present advice to them.  Can you imagine if you rolled your eyes at your boss when they asked you to change something?  (OK, everyone knows that I totally roll my eyes at my bosses, but not when it’s about work/work product!)  I haven’t CAUGHT any eye rolls since I mandated push-ups for every eye roll.  I haven’t had to pick up equipment in weeks because they know if I pick it up, they are running to get it back.  They ask politely to leave the dugout for bathroom breaks or band-aids, but no longer ask me to find their gloves between innings because I’ve told them that’s not the coaches’ job.

It’s a chance to teach humility and confidence.  We played a great game against a top team during the regular season and the very next game…we stunk it up!  Everyone needs a wake up call sometimes; a reminder that there is always someone/some team that is better. As they practice and grow, they are seeing their hard work pay off.  They are getting on base more often.  They are making more outs in the field.  They know they can beat any team if they work together and play hard.  The game is teaching them the difference between confidence and cocky.

It’s a chance to learn and grow while having fun with friends.  It’s a chance to learn dignity in losing; and grace in winning.  It’s not just a game.

Sports are such a huge and wonderful part of my childhood that I am honored when I'm asked to coach.

Just like the monsters that trashed by body, these girls drive me INSANE. They bring me to tears because I am so PROUD of them.  They teach me more lessons about life than I can ever teach them. When I make hard decisions and they aren’t happy with me, it breaks my heart, but I remember that disappointment is also a huge part of life and it’s not my job to shelter them from it.  (I haven’t broke out in “YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT” yet, so this season’s going fairly well;)) Sometimes they don’t listen and I have to be stern.  Other times they are so funny that I forget they are monsters and not my friends.

Their smiles melt my heart.  Their tears break it.

It’s not JUST a game, but so much more.

Win or lose, I’m so proud of them!

 GO NAVY SEALS!!