Blog Archives
Walk the Path That’s Set Before You
We’ve all been there at some point in our lives (even the youngest among us). We have a plan, a preferred path we’ve chosen to walk, only to find that for some reason that path is not open to us at this particular point.
At that point we have two options: turn around and go home, or walk an alternative path until we can (maybe) get to the one we want to follow. This is true in life in general, and it’s true in fastpitch softball specifically.
Since this isn’t a life coaching blog, we’re going to look at the softball example. You can apply the advice, however, as you choose.
Let’s take the example of a tryout since high school softball is just getting going in much of the U.S. Perhaps the path you’ve chosen (or desire) is to play on the varsity team, or to play a particular “glamour” position such as pitcher or catcher or shortstop.
But when the tryout results came out you were placed on JV instead. Or maybe you’re on varsity but the coach has already told you that the position you love is already taken by someone he/she thinks is better than you.
(Yes it may also be taken by someone who isn’t better than you but that the coach likes more for some reason, but we’ll set that discussion aside for another day.)
Essentially your path forward is blocked for now. You can get angry about it and walk away. Or you can say to yourself “if that path isn’t open what other options do I have?”
Let’s start with making JV instead of varsity. This may be a blessing in disguise.
Sure your ego takes a hit, especially if some of your travel or rec teammates made varsity. But ask yourself if you would rather sit the bench on varsity, maybe getting 10 innings of playing time total for the season, or you would rather be an every day starter on JV?
(Incidentally, Jay Bolden and I discuss this topic in more detail on next week’s From the Coach’s Mouth podcast. Be sure to check it out.)
While there are some things you can learn by watching games and participating in the varsity practices, you need to be playing regularly in games to keep your skills sharp.. You will probably be better off playing than sitting, even if the team you’re playing on isn’t that great.
And being on that team may also give you a better opportunity to develop other skills such as leadership which will serve you well not only in softball but throughout your life. So take the path that’s been set before you and walk the heck out of it; your time will come, and you’ll be even more ready to seize it.
What about the path to your favorite position being closed right now? In that case, I’d say go where the team needs you to be now, prove yourself, and you’ll be that much more ready for when your preferred path opens again.
Here’s an example. I worked with a terrific catcher a few years ago. She helped take her team to second in State among large schools, and was recruited to a strong D2 school to be their catcher.
When she got there, though, a senior transfer had come in and was given that spot without even the chance to compete for it. So what did she do?
She took advantage of whatever other opportunities were made available to her to get on the field.
It started with being the DH. She did well there, so the coach, recognizing this girl’s athletic ability, decided to try her out in left field to see if she could shore up the defense as well as the offense.
My catcher hadn’t played a lot of outfield, but she had played some, and in this situation she played the heck out of it, diving for balls and using her catcher arm to throw out runners at home. She used the opportunity to prove what type of player she was, and once the senior graduated she was back behind the plate where she wanted to be.
You can do the same. Whether your coach puts you in the outfield, or at second base, or at first base, or simply asks you to DH, give it all you have and do your best to learn that position as quickly as you can.
You never know what might come out of it, and if nothing else at least you’re on the field showing what you can do. Because it’s tough to show what you can do from a seat in the dugout.
Life is full of twists and turns, and you’re not always going to like them. They might even seem scary at times.
But rather than fighting them, if you keep putting one foot in front of the other and make the best of the current situation, good things will happen for you.
Path photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
How “Garbage Time” Can Become Your Treasure
There is an old saying that states “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” (Actually it says “one man’s” but I have updated it for the modern era. You’re welcome.)
This concept definitely applies to softball, especially if you are one of those players who is struggling to get playing time at a particular position so you can prove what you can do. It all revolves around what football fans call “garbage time.”
The term “garbage time” typically refers to a point in the fourth quarter where one time is so far ahead the other team has no chance to catch up, but there are still several minutes left to play. That’s usually where you will see the second string quarterback (as well as other bench players) take the field to run out the clock while keeping the starters from suffering a stupid injury.
The softball equivalent would be a game where one team is clearly over-matched, down by several runs, and there is a time limit. It’s clear the team that’s down isn’t going to be able to overcome the deficit in time but they have to keep playing anyway.
Here’s how you can turn this unfortunate situation into an opportunity.
Let’s say you’re the third or fourth pitcher on your team. You started the fall season kind of rough but have been working hard over the offseason and have improved your pitching considerably over the last few months.
Now that it’s summer you’re eager to prove what you can do, but your coach still thinks of you as you were back in the fall and is reluctant to put you in to pitch.
So suggest to your coach that you will take all the “garbage time” innings you can get. (Although you may not want to refer to them as “garbage time.”)
Frame in the context of helping the team: The team still has to play, but why waste one of the “good” pitchers on meaningless innings? Wouldn’t it be better to save them for a game where you have a better chance of winning?
That logic should make sense to most coaches – at least the ones who are honest with themselves. Worst case you go out there and give up a bunch of runs and the game ends early due to the run-ahead rule.
Embarrassing, sure, but does it really matter if you lose by 7 runs or 10 runs? And if you do get run ruled your team gets a little extra time to rest, relax, and reset before having to play their next game.
But you’re not actually planning to give up any runs. In fact, your plan is to show the coach that you’re ready to pitch by holding your own against a team that was beating up on your #1 or #2 pitcher.
Do that a couple of times and your coach may start to look at you differently. Perhaps he/she will let you start or relieve in a pool play or “friendly” game where the outcome isn’t already decided.
Do well there and he/she may start giving you more opportunities, and eventually turn to you as a regular member of the staff instead of the pitcher of last resort.
All because you volunteered to eat up the innings no one else really wanted.
While this strategy probably works best for pitchers, it can be applied to other positions as well. After all, field players need a break from time to time too, especially if they’re already nursing injuries or you’ve been playing a lot of games either in one day or on back-to-back days.
And who knows? Maybe your eagerness and positive attitude can spur the team to keep fighting and do better even when it feels like all hope is lost.
In the right conditions it just takes one spark to light a major fire. You could be that spark.
It’s said that luck doesn’t just happen; we make our own luck. Volunteering for “garbage time” is a way to make your own luck – and turn what looks like trash into your own personal treasure.
Gold bars photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
There’s Always Someone Watching
A few weeks ago one of my students pitched in a tournament. The game didn’t go particularly well, she said, as her team lost 8-0.
Not exactly the type of outcome that makes you a legend. So what happened next was very cool.
Her dad ran into the coach of the winning team in one of the common areas, and the coach was very complimentary.
“Your daughter pitched a great game,” the coach said. “What happened on the scoreboard wasn’t her fault. Her team just made too many errors.”
The pitcher’s dad thanked him for the kind words. But then came the shocker.
“Has your daughter committed to a team yet for next year?” the coach asked. “If not, I’d love to offer her a spot on my team.”
Think about that. The opposing team tapped that girl for eight runs and the coach of that team offered her a roster spot right there.
What this proves is a simple fact. As they say in the Ocean’s 11 remake, there’s always someone watching.
What that coach saw, I assume, was not a pitcher who was losing a ballgame but instead a pitcher who was battling to try to keep her team in it, even if the rest of the team was shooting itself in the foot. She didn’t give up, or complain, or do the things many athletes do when things aren’t going their way.
Instead she showed strength of character (as well as quality of performance) to a degree that impressed the coach enough to want her on his team.
That is something every athlete in every sport should keep in mind as they play. It’s easy to be happy or “up” or “fierce” when your team is winning and you’re performing well.
But the ones who really stand out are the players who can do it in the face of adversity – like giving your opponents extra outs on a hot Sunday afternoon. Not because someone might be watching but because that’s who they are.
But the someone watching part is important. It could be, as in this case, the coach of a future travel team who can offer a better opportunity.
It could be the local high school coach checking out the incoming freshmen. It could be a college coach who is looking for the right players to help their team win a conference championship and go to a post-season tournament.
Heck, it might even be a future employer who just happens to be out watching their daughter play ball.
Whoever it is you just never know who might be watching. And who might be very impressed with how you handle yourself when things aren’t going well.
So keep that in mind on your tough days. Instead of sulking, or complaining, or just giving up, keep on playing. Do your best every time no matter how roughly things are going.
Because there’s always someone watching who could make a huge difference in your life.
Life in the Fastpitch Lane 