Take Time to Reassess at Season’s End – Tom Wysocki

Originally published in August 2011 issue of Fastpitch Delivery, membership newspaper of NFCA
by Tom Wysocki - Blue Wave Travel Ball

With the completion of the myriad "national" tournaments, the 2011 summer travel ball season has long been over. During the campaign, dreams came true and dreams were broken. At each season's end, we reassess and sometimes wonder if it's worth the time, effort, physical and psychological stress and considerable money expended.

In the national tournaments, competition is typically very tough. In the ASA Northern national which we played, the majority of the teams including ourselves were very competitive with the teams that ended up playing on Sunday for the championship – any one of us could have won the whole thing. Of course, there can be but one tournament champion. What of the rest? What do we and the other teams that came home without the tournament champion's crown gain? No. 1 is fun of the game. But the fun is short lived – and after a tough loss, there is an empty, painful feeling inside – we all learn to deal with it.

Then what is the "wherefore and the why" of such competition? The long term values are life lessons from our experiences on and off the playing field, sacrificing self for team, camaraderie with teammates and opponents alike, the lessons learned or yet to be learned from the experiences – and the determination to go forward better, swifter, stronger, smarter, more focused, more disciplined than when we entered the competition. To recognize our shortcomings and strive to eliminate them – to recognize our strengths and continue to build on them.

We ask our players as well as our coaches to be pleased with the good things they did – but not satisfied.

As players (and coaches) we want to think of a few things we could improve on the next time we are faced with a competition or task. It could be improvement in performing a skill, better "mind control" to focus on the task at hand (the next pitch, the school paper to be written, the math problem to be solved), or perhaps better preparation by way of eating better, getting more rest prior to the task at hand, spending more time exercising to develop strength, speed, endurance (less time before the TV or computer), etc.

We suggest that our players jot down their ideas in a notebook or diary – take action on these needed improvements. Go back and read them again periodically and see how they are progressing. Remembering...

"Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance." (Samuel Johnson)

There is no "free lunch" – you've got to "pay" for anything of value." (My Mother)

For many teams, tryouts follow soon after the completion of "nationals." Many players try out and play another year simply out of habit – they've done so since they were 11- or 12-years-old. We encourage our players, particularly our older players, to give the process a bit of thought.

As players mature, more interests and activities become available to them – more varied social opportunities, job opportunities, possibly a car of their own, etc. This is especially noticeable as players age up from 16U to 18U.

Some players decide that the commitment of time, effort, discipline required by highly competitive softball requires too great a sacrifice of these other interests. Others must work when they are not in school to help their parents support the family. Others reach a point where their abilities are not up to the competition they will face at the next level of highly competitive softball. They decide to or must drop out of the higher levels of competitive softball. Young women stop playing completely or go to "B" level teams or park district programs – that's OK and often the right thing for such players.

Other players continue trying to play a high level of competitive ball but they resent the time and effort they must commit to this type of softball – they often want to be somewhere else in the midst of a game or practice – this is a very bad situation for them and their teammates – better for a girl to recognize her preference for such "other" things and retire from this high level of competitive softball.

And then there are the "diamond rats." Sure these players have other interests, but they are really happy when they are on the ball field, in the dugout, with their team at games and practices – focusing on a game is not a problem – it's a joy, it makes them happy. They practice on their own, work out, try to eat right, get enough sleep before game days – do all they can to play at their full potential. Oh, they have their "days" when they have to struggle to stay "in the game," but these days are very few and far between for them. Softball makes them happy. One thing for certain, the "diamond rat" belongs on the softball diamond.

Encourage your players, especially those in their mid to late teens, to periodically re-evaluate their motivation and commitment. Softball is an excellent preparation for life – but it is not life. All players eventually "retire." It's sad when a player must retire prematurely due to finances, family situations or injury – but it's bad when a player continues to play out of habit and resents the time she puts into the game. We want those "diamond rats" to play as long as they are able – others need to recognize when it's time move to other activities and leave the highly competitive levels of the game to the players who find happiness on the diamond.

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