Me and Mine

Our greatest honor as coaches, is to spread the knowledge of the game we love and share it with as many people as we possibly can. I love all levels of the game. I love teaching kids, sharing my joy of the game, and my competitiveness. The only things I dislike are people (kids and parents) who think they don't have to work and earn their place, wheteher in be on a baseball diamond or in life in general. We are all born equal, but from there on its up to the individual person. (perhaps parents for a few years)

I have problems when some well-meaning person comes around and claims that "this or that or whatever" is the best way to do things, without looking at everything or everyone involved. Whats good for one may not be for others and you have to have the flexibility to adjust to individuals.

Seadog makes some points but I don't beleive you can coach looking through the eyes of the weakest player. You have to consider all 12 set of eyes that you're dealing with. Plus the 24 other sets (parents) plus the 30 others (board) and perhaps the hundereds others (opponents, at least in the youth rec leagues). The minute you consider one player more than any other you are not IMHO doing your job.

It has always been my philosophy to always challenge my sons and "my" players. I want to set the bar high and let them work to attain it. Instead, I'm surrounded by people who don't want to work for things but want them handed to them. In order to make things equal they lower the bar so everyone can reach it with little or no effort. I say make that extra effort and elevate everyone to the higher level.

Winning isn't worth a plug nickel if you don't have to earn it and work for it. The greatest joy of winning a championship is knowing all the hard work and effort and dedication to your sport ... has all paid off! How many people really enjoy a game where one team demolishes another? Neither team really benefits. Well, the way to even the competition is not to bring down the better team but to help the weaker team become stronger.

I guess I would rather teach my kids and all kids to become entrepreneurs instead of welfare recipients and that's why I stress competition and working to become the best you can be which IMHO is a lot higher than most people think.