Okay, so it isn't the Majors, the Minors, Triple A, Double A or even Single A. It's not even Babe Ruth or Little League. It's t-ball and it's so much fun I can't tell you, or at least I'm going to try.
First of all, who would've thought the kid who couldn't hit, couldn't really catch and always ended up in right field in Little League would someday be teaching kids how to play baseball? Certainly not me, but here I am teaching a bunch of 5- and 6-year olds the basics of fielding, running the bases and hitting. And it is certainly work but it's also the most fun one can have in a management position. And I'm not even getting paid.
I think it's special because at this stage it's not really so much about being good, but more about learning the basics of a game I truly love. (Thanks Dad, my late Nonni B and my late Grandfather, Irving). A game that since I was that young, naive Little Leaguer I yearned to play up until getting cut from my high school team. But I always made sure I was playing some form of the game, softball, etc, if I wasn't playing the 'real' game. And I did actually learn how to hit and I'm a damn fine outfielder, but a few steps slower that I was 20 odd years ago. But never in my life did it occur to me to actually manage a team of kids. And let me tell you while it's great fun, it's not all that easy.
First you have to remember that their attention spans are short. So by the time you come back them to catch a grounder, most likely they are looking the other way. This is great for me because I quickly learn everyone's name and good for them because they are really learning to react fast (because as I say their name the ball is on it's way). Some of them are nervous about swinging the bat and approach the plate as if they were stiffened up like dried paper mache. So getting them to relax at the plate is a bit difficult and then there are the opposite kids, so raring to go that you need to be totally prepped for a swinging bat in the direction of your, enough said, you just need to move out of the way, fast.
Despite all those little challenges, it's just a rush to do it. It feels good and important. And you can tell which kids will move on from this stage and may, someday, end up really up there. And guess what, being their first manager all of sudden becomes a little more important. Because it's those early manager's that instill in you the attitude you need to succeed and do well, and if you don' t think you start learning those kinds of things at 5, I'm here to say it's true. So, for the manager, that is an important responsibility to help bring them along while staying committed to your other players who, like you, are there to have fun.
It's funny, I only yelled that the team once today. And that was then laughed at one of their teammates for swinging through the ball. I know from experience that kids can be really good at being mean to each other, and my first speech as manager was about teamwork, and supporting your teammates no matter what. I wanted to make sure everyone on my team knew that they were to help each other learn and get better at this game. I am just the facilitator. They are the team. And in just two weeks, we get to say, PLAY BALL!
Sounds like things went really well...you are right, they will remember their first coach for a long time...that is a special role for you and they will thank you for it one day, at least some of them, and your daughter of course! I still remember my first dance instructor the same way. I did do softball too, but when I was a bit older, middle school. I sucked, but we had fun, which is most important. Good luck with more practices!
Posted by: kelly at March 28, 2004 10:26 PMI helped coach t-ball when Mallory played and I loved it.It was so much fun and I looked forward to it.But now she's older and into soccer....and winning,and well,if I coached her soccer....we wouldn't win!
Posted by: Emily at March 29, 2004 09:59 AM