By this time of the year, amateur baseball at all levels is in high gear. Colleges are fighting for conference tournament berths and seeding. High schools are learning how they compare to their district and regional competition. Youth leagues are beginning practice and games. Travel teams are playing weekend tournaments routinely.
At every level of amateur baseball, the most important people in each organization and team are the coaches. Coaches determine the culture, atmosphere, and tone the players and parents will either enjoy or endure all season. Coaches, for the most part, determine the expected outcomes, tangible and not, that players and parents will experience.
If you’re that coach, how will you handle the responsibility you’ve been given?
When you’re with your players, you are the most important person in their lives. You are.
And, yet, sadly, so many coaches never consider their approach to coaching. Sure, they do practice plans and make their players work hard. But, I’m talking about something different.
I’m talking about coaching on purpose. From what I’ve seen in myself and others, many coaches default to coaching as they were coached, good or bad. Or, they simply react to whatever happens, instead of intentionally designing an overall experience for players and parents.
Coach, you have a great opportunity, one you can seize or squander. This isn’t just about baseball. Not anymore. This season, coach on purpose. Make that commitment now, even if you don’t know what it means.
In the next few weeks, I’ll share some of the things I’ve learned about what it means to coach on purpose. For now, I’m praying for you, coach. If you’re going to coach on purpose, you’ll be in the minority and you’ll need all the prayer and support you can get.
Coach on purpose. You can do it.
