Saturday, October 19, 2013
Yesterday morning driving to DeSoto's Rotary for a speaking engagement at 6:30 I drove straight into a full moon. It was like God was just showing me what He does everyday. Then all of a sudden, the bottom part of the moon was covered with clouds and it looked like a beard, and it was like He was telling me: Red Sox in six.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Know the Rules
I went to a tournament this weekend and watched coaches who didnt know the rules.
You owe it to your fellow coaches, the parents, your players and the other team to know the rules.
All good coaches know the rules.
Take the time to know and understand the rules.
Take the time.
You'll be glad you did.
Monday, June 3, 2013
The Advanced Parent - Bill Severns
www.keepersofthesandlot.com
My favorite television commercial is from the NCAA spot showing this amazing group of young college athletes as they look right into our living room and proclaim, "this year there are 400,000 of us all going "pro" in something other than sports!!" They are wide-eyed, ready to go and clearly understand that their world of competitive sports is about to end. Likewise, it is very obvious that the experiences they have had, lessons they have learned, friends they have made and the way they have played the game, will be with them forever. This is what athletics is designed to do.
When you do the math, you figure that to ‘get’ them there, it took roughly 800,000 parents and probably 400,000 coaches and teachers to inspire, teach, motivate and keep the fire burning as they worked hard to accomplish their dreams. Mix that with brothers, sisters, friends and everyone else and that is well over 1,500,000 people who did it right, just for them!! They ‘get it’ and they get to celebrate. Most parents do it right.
I love "advanced" parents, coaches and teachers.
Every "advanced" athlete will tell you that somewhere along the way they were influenced, motivated, helped and guided by someone special that made it click for them.
One of my favorite lines that I took to heart from one of my sandlot kids (as he headed into high school) was, "Coach, I always loved the way you didn't push us, but you guided us through our little league years". To be honest, there were many days I "pushed" them, but the important thing is, they saw it as "guiding". Sometimes we just have to "nudge" a little.
David Freese was the MVP of the 2011 World Series. The night after the Cardinals won it all he appeared on Jay Leno. Most people know that David quit playing baseball after his senior year and turned down a full scholarship to Missouri. He just didn't want to play anymore. Jay asks him, "Why did you quit?!!" David says, "Cause I wanted to be a kid for a while, go to the zoo, go to parties and stuff that kids do". The World Series MVP just wanted to be a kid for a while. David was such a great baseball player all through high school, he always had to perform at a high level, come through in the clutch and meet the unreal expectations that everyone has for the "advanced" athlete. He had hit over 25 home-runs, batted over .600… but he was burned-out.
Leno says, "That had to affect your parents when that you gave up a scholarship?"
And here is the answer I love...."Well Jay, actually my parents were the only people who totally supported my decision to hang up my cleats". His mom and dad had his back on this one, and David knew it, recognized it and appreciated that fact. I love it.
Let your kids know you have their back. That is what an "advanced" parent does.
In my travels speaking and talking to parents groups, occasionally I will have one say to me, "my son/daughter is different, they want to do this every single day and they love it". I can certainly understand that. All I ever wanted to do was play baseball. I really did, 24/7. But you have to be careful. Make sure it is your kid's decision to play. Support what they want to do. It is very powerful and important to a kid when they know their parents and coaches have their back. David went to another college and after a year off decided he wanted to play ball again. It was his decision and he told Leno, "I decided I needed to play some ball."
As parents, we are all sometimes guilty of pushing a little too hard. However, as parents it really is our job to be there and lead. Sometimes it is tough, but we are the parents! The caution is that we have to be careful. Leno says, "So your dad was your coach early on?" David says, "Yeah, he was my coach, but there comes a time where your dad just needs to be your dad and your coach needs to be your coach." Great line.
Of course, this story has a happy ending. David had the ability, got the support from the ones that love him and led the Cardinals to victory in one of the greatest World Series ever. Burnout can come to kids, but also to parents. Parents are a big concern of mine. Just remember, it will work out. Mark Batterson in his great book, "The Circle Maker" says, "Dream big, pray hard and think long". My mother always says, "Just be patient". She is an "advanced" parent. We are never too old to listen to our mothers.
Like Carla and Jeremy said in the February issue of The Advanced Athlete, it is really great to see a parent who "gets it". We see them every day. I have coached for many years against some of the best. Every day guys and gals who love their kids, spend the time it takes and put it on the line to do it right. They show up every day and demonstrate to the kids how to live their lives and deal with things. They are the same every day. They don’t have to scream and always be the center of attention. They lead by example. These are the "advanced" coaches and parents who understand that the "sandlot" years are so critical in the development of their children. They realize it is necessary for them to learn how to play "fearlessly" and figure out what their individual strengths and abilities will be.
My youngest son, Will played all the sports he could. He really felt like he was "expected" to play. He had a lot of success. His senior year, the drama teacher and his music professor suggested that he try out for the school play, "The Beauty and the Beast". We had never heard him sing. He landed the role of "Gaston", won best supporting actor for the year and what a time we had. A football player in the school play!!!
He later said to me, "You know dad, I heard you talking on the phone one night in your bedroom. You didn't know I was listening. And you told a friend of yours how much you loved seeing me in the play, like I had been re-born in something other than sports. When I heard you say that, I decided that whatever my kid wants to do, I am going to support them in it and I learned that from you and mom".
And finally, let me just tell you my friend, this ride goes really fast. Make the "ride home" with your kids the best part of the game. On the way to the game and on the way home, make sure you tell your child how much you love them and how proud you are that they are your kid. Go get a hamburger and celebrate the days that you have. Because one day you will ride home alone. And you will be glad you did it right, no regrets.
That will be your "advantage". Enjoy the journey.
www.keepersofthesandlot.com
My favorite television commercial is from the NCAA spot showing this amazing group of young college athletes as they look right into our living room and proclaim, "this year there are 400,000 of us all going "pro" in something other than sports!!" They are wide-eyed, ready to go and clearly understand that their world of competitive sports is about to end. Likewise, it is very obvious that the experiences they have had, lessons they have learned, friends they have made and the way they have played the game, will be with them forever. This is what athletics is designed to do.
When you do the math, you figure that to ‘get’ them there, it took roughly 800,000 parents and probably 400,000 coaches and teachers to inspire, teach, motivate and keep the fire burning as they worked hard to accomplish their dreams. Mix that with brothers, sisters, friends and everyone else and that is well over 1,500,000 people who did it right, just for them!! They ‘get it’ and they get to celebrate. Most parents do it right.
I love "advanced" parents, coaches and teachers.
Every "advanced" athlete will tell you that somewhere along the way they were influenced, motivated, helped and guided by someone special that made it click for them.
One of my favorite lines that I took to heart from one of my sandlot kids (as he headed into high school) was, "Coach, I always loved the way you didn't push us, but you guided us through our little league years". To be honest, there were many days I "pushed" them, but the important thing is, they saw it as "guiding". Sometimes we just have to "nudge" a little.
David Freese was the MVP of the 2011 World Series. The night after the Cardinals won it all he appeared on Jay Leno. Most people know that David quit playing baseball after his senior year and turned down a full scholarship to Missouri. He just didn't want to play anymore. Jay asks him, "Why did you quit?!!" David says, "Cause I wanted to be a kid for a while, go to the zoo, go to parties and stuff that kids do". The World Series MVP just wanted to be a kid for a while. David was such a great baseball player all through high school, he always had to perform at a high level, come through in the clutch and meet the unreal expectations that everyone has for the "advanced" athlete. He had hit over 25 home-runs, batted over .600… but he was burned-out.
Leno says, "That had to affect your parents when that you gave up a scholarship?"
And here is the answer I love...."Well Jay, actually my parents were the only people who totally supported my decision to hang up my cleats". His mom and dad had his back on this one, and David knew it, recognized it and appreciated that fact. I love it.
Let your kids know you have their back. That is what an "advanced" parent does.
In my travels speaking and talking to parents groups, occasionally I will have one say to me, "my son/daughter is different, they want to do this every single day and they love it". I can certainly understand that. All I ever wanted to do was play baseball. I really did, 24/7. But you have to be careful. Make sure it is your kid's decision to play. Support what they want to do. It is very powerful and important to a kid when they know their parents and coaches have their back. David went to another college and after a year off decided he wanted to play ball again. It was his decision and he told Leno, "I decided I needed to play some ball."
As parents, we are all sometimes guilty of pushing a little too hard. However, as parents it really is our job to be there and lead. Sometimes it is tough, but we are the parents! The caution is that we have to be careful. Leno says, "So your dad was your coach early on?" David says, "Yeah, he was my coach, but there comes a time where your dad just needs to be your dad and your coach needs to be your coach." Great line.
Of course, this story has a happy ending. David had the ability, got the support from the ones that love him and led the Cardinals to victory in one of the greatest World Series ever. Burnout can come to kids, but also to parents. Parents are a big concern of mine. Just remember, it will work out. Mark Batterson in his great book, "The Circle Maker" says, "Dream big, pray hard and think long". My mother always says, "Just be patient". She is an "advanced" parent. We are never too old to listen to our mothers.
Like Carla and Jeremy said in the February issue of The Advanced Athlete, it is really great to see a parent who "gets it". We see them every day. I have coached for many years against some of the best. Every day guys and gals who love their kids, spend the time it takes and put it on the line to do it right. They show up every day and demonstrate to the kids how to live their lives and deal with things. They are the same every day. They don’t have to scream and always be the center of attention. They lead by example. These are the "advanced" coaches and parents who understand that the "sandlot" years are so critical in the development of their children. They realize it is necessary for them to learn how to play "fearlessly" and figure out what their individual strengths and abilities will be.
My youngest son, Will played all the sports he could. He really felt like he was "expected" to play. He had a lot of success. His senior year, the drama teacher and his music professor suggested that he try out for the school play, "The Beauty and the Beast". We had never heard him sing. He landed the role of "Gaston", won best supporting actor for the year and what a time we had. A football player in the school play!!!
He later said to me, "You know dad, I heard you talking on the phone one night in your bedroom. You didn't know I was listening. And you told a friend of yours how much you loved seeing me in the play, like I had been re-born in something other than sports. When I heard you say that, I decided that whatever my kid wants to do, I am going to support them in it and I learned that from you and mom".
And finally, let me just tell you my friend, this ride goes really fast. Make the "ride home" with your kids the best part of the game. On the way to the game and on the way home, make sure you tell your child how much you love them and how proud you are that they are your kid. Go get a hamburger and celebrate the days that you have. Because one day you will ride home alone. And you will be glad you did it right, no regrets.
That will be your "advantage". Enjoy the journey.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The season is so long. There are so many ups and downs. In the "Keepers of the Sandlot", Ned says, "At any level it's all the same". Well, that is really true. When we would win, we would say, "Great game". When we would lose, we would say, "We'll get em tomorrow". There was always tomorrow. No time to dwell on either one. Can't get too high or too low. Keep it simple, at any level, it's all the same.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Short hops, short stops, and a game of catch
As I walked around our 3 and 2 complex this week-end, I couldn't help notice all the great plays I witnessed. From the youngest of ages to the 12 year olds, they were really amazing. I was just having the best time. You can tell who gets their reps!! I remember all my boys saying, "give me a short hop!!". You don't have to be perfect for a game of catch, just get it close and they'll slowly learn to "pick it" as we say. A game of catch is always "perfect".
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