More Why…
I’ve written and talked at length about why I started MyTravelBall and the Travel Sports Network, and have been humbled by the support and encouragement from family, friends, coaches, parents and players. I’ll continue to refine and tweak so I can provide support and resources for everyone that invests in our children’s happiness and growth, and I think sports is a great way to help shape meaningful lives.
As mentioned before, I’ve been coaching and working with kids for nearly 40 years and I still get the question “Why?”
People wonder if my kids are still playing or if I’m helping with grandkids (that’s a whole other blogpost). And the answer is as simple as the photo above and the cards I received recently after this year’s graduations of some of my players. My wife, kids and faith always come first, but I’ve changed over the years to understand the positive impact we can and should all have on young lives. Hopefully I’m modeling behavior of helping kids through sports, that my son and daughter can carry on to their kids and others as well.
When I get a note from a senior that I’ve worked with since he was just going into high school saying “I really appreciate you pouring into me over the years. You have helped me become a man and I am grateful for that.” it reinforces the importance of what we do as adults and how we can help influence a young man in some way. Even if it is as simple as just being another adult that cares about their development and success. It’s easy to get caught up in wins and losses, trophies and records, and these days bat-flips, base-dances and social media likes. But coaches, and teachers have so much power to influence and mold young people through education, that it’s a shame when some focus on their own success more than that of the kids. Luckily, most do it the right way and if you’re a coach (paid or parent), always remember, you are making an impact. It’s up to you to make it a positive or negative experience.
And that education isn’t always about a math test or bunt coverage. It’s more often about how being a good teammate can help them learn to think of others first so they become good people. How taking personal responsibility for mistakes and making adjustments will help them improve and succeed. How learning to deal with failure and interacting with others when things might not be going their way will help them cope in the real world. How every coach, teacher, umpire or boss is not going to care nearly as much as their parents do - so they better learn to adapt and adjust when they are on their own.
All of this is why my wife and I are updating and re-launching the MyTravelBall Podcast; sharing walk-throughs and reviews of facilities, teams and organizations; developing educational content for players and coaches; and asking for your help supporting and growing the MyTravelBall Community platform where we can all share, learn and give back through the game we love.
I’ll wrap up with a quote I’ve shared before from Roberto Clemente that should resonate with all of us. "Anytime you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth."