Active Community : Thread List - Inspirational Stories

Coaches can learn from the players

guest — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:41:00 GMT

A few years ago a young lady from Paterson came up to me asking if she could try out. I directed her to my asst. coach who was in the process of hitting infield ground balls.

He immediately came over to find out why I sent her over. I said to him she want's to play fastpitch softball let her try out. Needless to say that girl became our starting third baseman.By the way did I mention that she only had one arm.

Keep going, never quit.

guest — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 06:17:00 GMT

When I was a senior in high school, the outcomes of my two sports couldn't have been more different. In football, it wasn't until game 5 that I finally got some serious playing time(our season ended in the first round of playoffs, we were 1-8). Until then, I had only gotten to be on the field for 2 plays on varsity-and those weren't even at receiver-they were as a safety in the last two plays of game 3. I absolutely hated practicing but not playing so I asked the coach if I could go play JV just to play. The only teams I wasn't starting on were kickoff and punt return. We kept losing in JV but at least I was playing instead of sitting. Finally I got a significant chance on varsity and I apparently made a block that kept a 98 yard touchdown drive going. I really wish I could remember that play but I can't-not because of a concussion, but because of adrenaline. I was so fired up to be playing that I don't remember what was perhaps the biggest block of my career. After that-only one game had me playing less than a full series on offense. It happened to be our only win so I really didn't care. That was two years ago now, and that season is still my biggest lesson in perseverence.

I carried the lesson through to track, lifting and running through the winter got me my best season ever. I had been around the sport all my life due to my dad being the assistant coach. The previous 3 seasons, I had struggled to earn the varsity letters that now decorate my jacket. It took 12 points to get a letter, my senior year I had well over 40 points but had not placed first or second in any individual event all year.

I finished my high school sports career with the awards of:

Football: 2 year letter-winner

Track: West Central Conference North Honorable Mention, member of a 4x200m relay team that won 4th place in MN Class A State Finals, 4 year letter winner, and last but not least-team captain.

The life lesson I took from all of this?

Even when it seems the entire world is against you and nothing is going right-you have to keep going. DO NOT QUIT! Instead just keep doing your best and eventually things will start to go your way. If all this is happening in a sport-once it starts going your way, you're going to have a season you'll never forget.

Tim Newberg,

Long Prairie/Grey Eagle Thunder (Minnesota)

Class of 2005

For the Kids

guest — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:50:00 GMT

As the mom of an older player that is now 25 and grew up in little league, and now the mom of a 12 year old who is now enjoying his first year in little league, I have to say I wish I had let my older son enjoy his own lime light. I see now that we as parents tend to get way too involved in our childrens actitvities. Don't get me wrong I think we should be involved, but only to the extent of fan support or voulnteering. When we get overly involved about play calls or winning and losing to the extent of yelling and fighting in front of our children it is a very sad and belitteling site. I hate to admit it but I did this myself and now regret that I did not let my son have fun as a child but forced myself into the picture with competitiveness. It's not if you win or lose, but did they have FUN! My younger son is now having fun. His coaches have been so very supportive even though it was a little frustrating at the begining because he had very little baseball skills. They have such a positive nature that my son and the whole team have come together and become a very good team that could possibly finish in the top 3 teams in their division. They are competitive, but with a positive and believe in yourself attitude. This is what we need to see in little league, not parents and coaches yelling and arguing about plays and calls. I just wanted to take the time to say Thank You to all the coaches that support this way of thinking and playing, for it reflects a positive way for our children and their parents. Hopefully this way will catch on all over our nation and we will see a big change in the way our children act when they themselves are coaches and parents. This way is simply COMPASSION, something that we need to get back into our world, and what better way to start than with our own children. Thank you again and please keep up the good work!!!

felixlasvegas@cox.net

Become a friend of the Rudheath Majestics!

guest — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:08:00 GMT

Hello everyone!

I'm the manager of the Rudheath Majestics. We are a Baseball team in Northwich, Cheshire, in England.

it's a bit of a special team in a way that it was built mainly as a way to support pupils doing transition between primary school and high school (which is a bit of a problem here) as well as to help with other issues. (I can forward you articles in private if you fancy..)

What we're looking for is to "twin" ourselves with some teams in the U.S, and start possibly a pen-pal kinda thing with the kids and if we could benefit from more coaching tips, it would be really cool!

Baseball is not the most popular thing here but I found it really useful to address all sorts of problems. But we sometimes feel a bit alone here as the web presence is near to zero and we are the only LL team I know besides another one in Northern Ireland. So we play with the local Pony league teams (2 teams) and sometimes make a special trip 2 hours north to meet another team. All the rest are down south, the nearest 4 hours away.

Getting a few letters with pics or emails from "across the pond" would really make the kids happy, give them a feeling of being part of something bigger as well as provide inspiration and raise aspirations, which is a really important thing for us.

If you fancy being part of this project in a way, please email me at rudheathbaseball@mac.com (or I don't know how to email people directly here yet.. but if you can, do so!)

Thanks a lot!!

Ioan

http://www.eteamz.active.com/rudheathmajestics

LL World Series.. Big Boys Can Cry!

guest — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:50:00 GMT

My heart was touched as I am sure was yours at the sight of Georgia winning the LLWS. As the boys jumped for joy they noticed the Japan team members starting to cry, the boys from Georgia stopped, walked over to the Japan and starting hugging their fellow ball players that just loss a long eight innings battle.

In was true sportsmanship, caring and class. Not a simple hand slap but hugs. To me a sign of hope that our sports may not be overrun by greed and self-centered attitude. We applaud both teams for their efforts and noble behavior.

AAA.HE WASTED THE TALENT THAT IS WORTH MILLIONS!!

guest — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:49:00 GMT

A LEFTY POWER PITCHER THE LIKES THAT NO PERSON HAD EVER SEEN IN BASEBALL WAS ALWAYS GETTING INTO TROUBLE. HE WAS THE LEADER OF THE PACK. THERE WERE RADAR GUNS IN THOSE DAYS BUT NOT READELY AVAILABLE LIKE TODAY. ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO I TOOK HIM TO A TECHER AT WATERTOWN HS WHO HAD PLAYED AAA PRO BASEBALL.HE LATER BECAME A SCOUT WITH THE RED SOX. DICK BARADINO WAS KIND TO THIS PLAYER AND EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD HEARD ABOUT HIS BASEBALL ABILITIES BUT THAT HE NEEDED TO GET ALONG WITH PLAYERS UMPIRES AND PEOPLE. THAT THERE ARE PLAYERS WITH A MILLION DOLLAR BODY BUT A 10 CENT HEAD. THAT THE PLAYER WITH LITTLE SKILL WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE MILLION DOLLAR BODY, AND MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. RICK SAID HE UNDERSTOOD BUT LATER THAT NIGHT DINKS AND PILLS WERE IN HIS POSSESION. I TALKED TO THE TEAM IN LYNN THAT WAS AT THAT TIME THE LYNN SAILORS. TOLD HIM THAT IF HE IS SOBER THAT HE IS BETTER THAN ANY PITCHER HE HAD THERE AS THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT SAID HE THREW ABOUT 98 MPH IF HE WAS ON. RICK WAS 6"4" 225 LBS THICK STONG LEGS AND INCREDIBLE FLEXEBILITY. TO THROW A FOOTBALL 75 YRDS WAS A FLICK OF THE WRIST. AND THERE WERE TIMES THAT HE STRUCK OUT THE SIDE BUT HE HAD 3 PLAYERS ON THE BASES AS THE CATCHER MISSED MOST OF THE BALLS.HE SAID THEY CAME IN SO HARD THAT HE HAD NO CHANCE TO PUT THE GLOVE. SO HE WOULD HAVE TO SLOW THE THROWS DOWN OR LOOSE THE GAME. WELL GETTING BACK TO HIS TRYOUT. THE OWNER OF THE TEAM IN LYNN SAID BRIMG HIM TO LYNN AND IN AT THE END OF THE FIRST GAME WE WILL TRY HIM OUT IN THE BULLPEN, BETWEEN THE DOUBLE HEADER. IF HE IS EVEN HALF OF WHAT YOU SAY, I WILL SIGN HIM ON THE SPOT, HE SAID. UNFORTUNATELY RICK KILLED HIS CHANCES ONCE AGAIN AS HE HAD EARLIER IN THE DAY HE HAD GONE TO A WEDING AND WAS DRUNK. SO ANOTHER CHANCE GONE. AND RICK IS GETTING OLDER. I BROUGHT HIM TO OUR PARK LEAGUE TEAM TO SEE IF HE WOULD TRY TO STEAR HIMSELF IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE ONLY PLAYED 7 INNING GAMES SO IN 14 INNINGS HE STRUCK OUT 37 PLAYERS IN 2 GAMES. THERE WAS A BIG ARTICLE IN THE GLOBE IN THE SPORTS SECTION. THEY CALLED HIM MR.K. THE PHILLIES CONTACTED HIM AND WANTED HIM TO TRYOUT BUT HE NEVER SHOWED AND THE WORD WAS AROUND AS HE HAD THROWN A BIKE AT AN UMPIRE FOR A BAD CALL. SO TO END THE STORY THE BEST AMATURE TALENT THAT I EVER SAW, NEVER GOT A PRO CONTRACT. WITH THE RIGHT COACHING HE MAY HAVE THROWN THE BALL AT ABOUT 110 MPH OR BETTER. HE WAS BUILT TO THROW.

WWW.HENRYSBASEBALLCLUB.COM

National Fastpitch Coaches College

guest — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:44:00 GMT

Join us for this one-of-a-kind, in-depth class that thoroughly covers one aspect of the game of fastpitch softball. Take this class for your own growth and development, or use this opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units, Master Coach Status or credits toward a Master?s degree in Kinesiology.

The NFCC's 2009-10 schedule features 13 locations around the country with one coming near you!

Winning Strategies for Game-Day Coaching ? Columbus, OH ? Nov 6-8

With Instructors: Carie Dever-Boaz, Heather Tarr, & Scott Whitlock!

See the link below for the Flyer & Registration form!

For More Information or to learn about other locations visit nfca.org/college

or contact Hildred Deese | 662/320-2155 | hildred@nfca.org

Click here for Flyer!