What It Means to Be a Ballplayer

What It Means to Be a Ballplayer

^{“The Ballplayer will do whatever it takes for his team to win.” – Augie Garrido}

^{“When they start the game, they don’t yell Work Ball. They say Play Ball.” – Willie Stargell}

For some of us not in the coaching community, the headline will be puzzling. Isn’t a ballplayer an athlete who plays ball? Well yes that is true. But in today’s world of showcase and travel ball madness, the term ballplayer gets lost in the woods. What I mean is this, that coaches and parents have lost what it means to simply let their kids play ball. With the thousands of showcases and travel ball tournaments going across the country, young athletes have lost what it means to simply play the game, and instead made it a job. Now not all travel teams and showcases are bad, but many have made sports too serious. Adults have put pressure on their sons and daughters to succeed because it will look good for the family, instead of just letting them play to learn.

For many of these young athletes the game becomes their life. This adds a ton of pressure onto the young athlete. This makes the game dreadful for young athletes instead of it being their release from the real world for a while. This also makes the young athlete a one-dimensional person. What you as a parent and coach allow, then that is promoted. Instead of teaching life lessons, you are transactionally using those athletes for your own gain. One of the biggest lessons that my dad ever taught me before I became a coach was that at the end of your coaching career the athlete won’t remember the score on the scoreboard, but they will remember your influence and their experience of playing for you. That is a powerful lesson that we all must learn with those that we lead. At the end of the day, it is about the lessons we pass along to those we lead that live long after we are gone. That is what legacy is.

Another lesson we must learn as mentors, parents, and coaches is that if your young athlete is good enough to play at the next level, he or she will be found. Coach Urban Meyer has said, “I don’t care what you do in camps. I want to hear your high school coach say “Take Him.” That is a powerful lesson for all of us. Let’s make the game a game. An outlet for the athlete to compete and learn So many lessons have been taught through athletics. Let the young athlete experience loss and victory. This will allow them to handle life easier. Now onto what I believe being a ballplayer really means.

What It Means to Be a Ballplayer

Team Player- Being a team player means that you are willing to do what it takes to help your teammate and the team in a practice, game, or in the classroom.

Sound Academics and Attendance- Joe Maddon once said, “Be present, not perfect.” This applies to the classroom, always attend if you can. It is also important to always give all that you have in the classroom and don’t be afraid to ask questions. This will only make you a better student, athlete, and person. Without academics and attendance in the classroom, it is virtually impossible to be a student-athlete. Recognize that the student part comes first. You may not become a professional athlete, so your education is paramount to your future.

Fundamentals and Skills in your Game- It is important to have the fundamentals and skills to be able to be a ballplayer. Nothing was ever accomplished with a halfhearted attitude. You must be able to play to be a ballplayer.

The Ability to be Coachable- Nothing grinds a coach’s gears more than not having the ability to listen. Athletes must be able listen to learn, instead of listening to respond. A most important lesson for today’s world.

Play for The Team and Not for Yourself- What separates a prospect from a ballplayer, is unselfishness. To be a ballplayer you must be able to play for your teammates. In your life you can only achieve so much by yourself. If you do things for others, others will do things for you. That is how goals are achieved.