As we finish our fall semester and everyone begins their preparation for the Holiday Season, I always reflect on one of our roles as a coach to expand our duties from the game of softball to teaching lifelong lessons to our athletes. The Holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and the talents we have been given to compete in athletics and also a perfect time to teach our young athletes about spreading generosity and giving back to the less fortunate. During their college career, we ask our athletes to participate in community service that ultimately will become a very important part of their resume. These experiences will become important factor for future employment and preparation for life after softball. For many, these opportunities are life changing and may separate you from other candidates for a job you are pursuing. As coaches and parents, we have an obligation to teach the importance of giving. Giving can be accomplished in many ways such as financial contributions, giving your time and energy to the poor and underprivileged, or just bringing a smile to the elderly that may not have family around during the Holiday Season.

I have found during my career that the athletes who participate in these experiences begin to learn a very important aspect of being a great teammate and leader. Early on in their careers, athletes seek to distinguish themselves. They usually bring a competitive mindset and want to defeat others to win personal victories. In today’s culture, that usually means getting a scholarship or winning an individual honor. They have a hard time seeing the big picture and worry more about their performance than the performance of the team. As players mature and gain more experience, they begin to understand that they can achieve more by joining with others to win team victories. They begin to understand the importance of sharing in the journey and ultimately the victories become sweeter.

Until next time,