Why I *still* coach

[sluggers]

It's hotter than hell. I'm covered in dust from the the wind is blowing across the field. My shirt is soaked with sweat.

One girl I had worked extra hard with had struck out three times in the first game and now once in the second.

I'm thinking, "What did I do wrong? What could I have done differently? She did great in practice, and now she's not seeing the ball at all."

The girl comes up for what would probably be her last bat of the day. I tell her the usual: "Watch the bat hit the ball, swing hard, you can do it." She swings. I hear the "thunk"--the unmistakable sound of the ball hitting the bat's sweet spot.

The ball shoots out of the infield like a rocket, over 2B's head , and into the RF alley for a double. She never before hit the ball that hard in practice or a game. The team bats around. She comes up again and hits another line drive up the middle.

After the game, the kid is on cloud 9. She and her grandparents are beaming.

Guess I'll give it another try next week.

 

[Cannonball]

Ray, that was a great story and thanks for sharing. When you said, "I'm thinking, "What did I do wrong? What could I have done differently? She did great in practice, and now she's not seeing the ball at all." it reminds me that every good coach has those moments when they search for answers to help their players. Sometimes, it just takes time for the player to come through and believe. That smile on her face is one of those moments that makes all of the work worth it.

 

[_MIA_]

You cannot stay away from concession stand food?

 

[Mike-Coach-Q]

You cannot stay away from concession stand food?

My grand kids are amazed that every ice cream truck in the area knows me by my 1st name, over 30 years in the local parks and ballfields.

 

[uncdrew]

Solid

 

[uncdrew]

We just want so badly for them to experience the joy of success. Be it a hit, a homer, a strikeout, a caught stealing.

Makes your heart expand, that's for sure.

 

[Josh Greer]

It's a game of failures. Folks don't realize that applies to coaches as well. Thanks for your commitment to hand in there with these kids. Great story and great job, Coach!

 

[dbronstein]

I had a similar event this season. 12u rec, we had a girl who never played before. Somewhere in mid season she finally got her first hit - lined one over 3b for a double. The grin on her face when she reached second was priceless.

 

[BillyB]

It's hotter than hell. I'm covered in dust from the the wind is blowing across the field. My shirt is soaked with sweat.

One girl I had worked extra hard with had struck out three times in the first game and now once in the second.

I'm thinking, "What did I do wrong? What could I have done differently? She did great in practice, and now she's not seeing the ball at all."

The girl comes up for what would probably be her last bat of the day. I tell her the usual: "Watch the bat hit the ball, swing hard, you can do it." She swings. I hear the "thunk"--the unmistakable sound of the ball hitting the bat's sweet spot.

The ball shoots out of the infield like a rocket, over 2B's head , and into the RF alley for a double. She never before hit the ball that hard in practice or a game. The team bats around. She comes up again and hits another line drive up the middle.

After the game, the kid is on cloud 9. She and her grandparents are beaming.

Guess I'll give it another try next week.

AWESOME!

 

[PJR202]

Previous HC and I are in limbo. I probably won't officially coach this year but I still go out and help because my sophomore along with a bunch of kids I already coached are out there. I understand better now why a lot of coaches will stick around until the last of their "first group" moves on.

HC and I cheered so hard a few days ago when a 5th grader (brand new player) at the MS/HS workout got one of her first, if not first, fly ball catches. She had already had 4 bounce out of her glove. Kid is fearless. Takes full speed throws at 2B with full grown girls running right at her, even though she drops 3/4 of them. Just keeps plugging away.

Now it's hard for me to see myself NOT being involved in the years to come, even if it's just instructing pitchers, or helping my LL coach buddies drag or line the field, etc. I never thought I would coach anything...much less girls' teams.