Among Your Softball Team…

“Wanted…A-Ball level 10U player to complete out roster” 

Sigh….

It’s that time of year again, when the team shuffle begins and little league coaches turn into serious head hunters trying to recruit, bribe, entice, and ‘recruit’ if you will the most talented players they can find from 8U to 18U so they can field a team of champions.

We worry it won’t be long before travel teams and organizations start paying middle school athletes.

And trust us, we have already seen first hand the ugliness, dishonesty, and under handed tactics that come with the ‘recruiting’ for travel team rosters. Honestly, it makes our heads hurt just a little.

Maybe we are delusional, but we earnestly believe that every girl can be coached up. That every girl has potential. And that MY GOD EVERY GIRL deserves a chance….

Or maybe what we are…is not something from delusion, but rather born out of reality. Because we know that AMONG YOUR TEAM LIES THE FUTURE! And that future, can be changed by their experiences on the softball field.

When I come and watch your team play, here is what I see. 

The outfielder who is constantly singing and swaying in the outfield grass, who drives you insane because you never think she is listening – may one day become a Broadway singer. Or maybe a news anchor.

The pitcher who is a perfectionist, who gets down on herself so easily, who frustrates you with her strong desire to be perfect – may someday use those same innate personality skills to develop the cure for cancer, which will require someone with dedication to perfection.

The short stop who sometimes forgets to cover the bags during a game, who you bench and yell at, because of her errors, may someday be a policewoman.

The catcher with the big arm and wild throws, may someday become a teacher.

The girl who stays on the team as your Extra Player, who is always cheering up the other kids on the teams and remains positive may someday be a psychologist.

The girl who is always late to practice, and who you make run for her tardiness, whose mom works two jobs to keep food on the table, may one day be a philanthropist.

The 1st baseman you have been trying to replace for the past 6 months because she is afraid of the ball, may be your doctor one day.

You get the point, right? While for right now, you see 8, 9, 13 or 17 year old little girls…the reality is that they are being groomed for so much more than just softball.

The beautiful powers of this Universe have given you (as a gift) those 12 girls on your team. Each with their own quirkiness, issues, problems and lacks. Some are more talented when-it comes to softball than others. But they ALL HAVE TALENT. They all have dreams. They all have potential. They all have a future.

Because among them all, are the women of tomorrow. The mothers of tomorrows children. The spouses, doctors, lawyers, teachers, policewoman, savvy business tycoons of tomorrow.

Among your team lies the future of your community, of this country.

And YOUR words, and YOUR actions towards them – makes a difference.

How dare you, or anyone for that matter, use words or actions to diminish a child based on softball skills alone?

While in your hunt to field the best of the best, you may see these girls as only softball players, you may only wonder WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR YOU – the reality is that they are so much more. And what we need to be brave enough to ask, is WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THEM?

Think about this for a moment…

15 Years from today (FROM RIGHT NOW) the vast majority of these girls will NOT be playing softball.

What will the girls remember about you? What will they takeaway from their time on the field? What are you doing to encourage the skills they do have, to take advantage of their strengths? How will the girls among your team, remember you?

Are you lifting them up? Or tearing them down? 

The girls among your team are a gift!

How will YOU choose to affect tomorrow? 

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