Post by CEZAR on Jun 12, 2014 13:30:31 GMT -6
Venus Taylor talks about Summer Ball and what it takes !! awesome Read ..
What is summer softball about? Why do you play? What are your goals? Why do you coach? What is your purpose? Summer softball can mean so many things to so many players and coaches from all different ages, levels and backgrounds.
To me summer softball is about playing a game that you love. It is about being a part of a team and working both individually and collectively towards goals that you have set out to accomplish. It is about team comrodery, growth, and sharing memorable experiences. It is about finding gratitude in each and every day that you wake up and recognize that you have a gift to share.
The most important reason you play and the common thread for most players is the LOVE of the game. I always advise people to pick their passion. If you do what is in your heart you will always find joy in what you do and naturally have a good attitude towards it. If you truly love the game…you will slowly but surely see all of the many gifts it will give back to you throughout time.
Players have different goals. One player may have a dream to play Division 1 softball. Another player may have a goal to enjoy playing and learning the game to be able to perform to the best of their ability for as long as their career will allow them. Some players simply choose to enjoy the process and the journey but decide that they would prefer to focus on academics at the next level. We are entitled in life to make our own decisions…dream our own dreams… and be accountable to the process and the work ethic that will or will not get you to your end goal.
You must have dreams and goals to provide clarity and organization to everything you are currently doing as well as everything you are setting out to do in the future. Everything is a process. There are steps to the top. You decide how many steps you are going to take and what is going to be the top for you. YOUR ONLY LIMIT IS YOU!
I have so much respect for baseball and softball players because they are two of the hardest sports to play. There is so much failure involved that your perserverance is tested on a daily basis. With that being said… it is not a game that can be perfected. It is important for those who decide to coach it that they set realistic expectations of players.
The hardest thing for me as a coach and former player at many levels is to witness coaches who choose to disrespect their players, publically humiliate them and/or coach through fear. The main reason this occurs is due to unrealistic expectations, ego, lack of knowledge or all of the above. When you choose to accept the role of coach you become a leader and a motivator. The mission is to educate and inspire every athlete to reach their full potential.
There are definitely different ways to motivate. Different players respond better to different techniques. It is your job as a coach to know your players personally and know what makes them tick as well as what shuts them down so that you can help them respond and bonce back. I challenge the coaches that pull their kids out of the game for making a physical error. What did you teach them? Will it keep them from making an error in the future? Do you see professional athletes getting pulled in the middle of the game for making an error? How would you feel if you were the player that made the error? Is that choice a detriment to the team at some point in the game?
I do not believe in coaching through fear. I believe in setting high expectations and standards. I believe in holding players accountable to the expectations. I believe in teaching players the game through good communication and a process of good work habits. It is the player’s responsibility to bring a good attitude and work ethic to all practice and games.
My passion is softball. My motto in life is aspire to inspire. I chose to coach because I want to be able to share my knowledge, experiences and my ability to connect the dots with as many people as I can to help them reach their highest potential. I have been extremely fortunate to cross paths with some of the best coaches and players in the sport of softball. I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say “because of you I never gave up…because of you I dreamed bigger dreams…because of you I received valuable information that helped me get to where I wanted to go.” There is no greater feeling than helping people awaken and reach their dreams. The brightest stars are those who shine for the benefit of others.
Rather you are a player or coach it is important to wake up and know your WHY. Why do you choose to spend your summer coaching and playing softball? What is your purpose? How can you make a contribution to your team? Why do you love to play? If you can keep the simple things in perspective and remind yourself of the why…you will find a great amount of joy on this journey.
Ken Griffey once said, “When you have fun, it changes all the pressure into pleasure.” I remember my summer softball days like they were yesterday. I remember winning, losing, learning, laughing with my teammates, competing, spending time with family, eating, swimming, singing on the microphone on long bus rides and simply just being surrounded by happy people who loved the sport…loved each other and bought into being a part of something bigger than ourselves. My summer softball experience growing up was priceless. I hope that those of you who read this article will choose to reflect on your why and value each and every day that you are given the opportunity to play, coach and honor the game of softball!
Venus Taylor
Taylor Made Softball
What is summer softball about? Why do you play? What are your goals? Why do you coach? What is your purpose? Summer softball can mean so many things to so many players and coaches from all different ages, levels and backgrounds.
To me summer softball is about playing a game that you love. It is about being a part of a team and working both individually and collectively towards goals that you have set out to accomplish. It is about team comrodery, growth, and sharing memorable experiences. It is about finding gratitude in each and every day that you wake up and recognize that you have a gift to share.
The most important reason you play and the common thread for most players is the LOVE of the game. I always advise people to pick their passion. If you do what is in your heart you will always find joy in what you do and naturally have a good attitude towards it. If you truly love the game…you will slowly but surely see all of the many gifts it will give back to you throughout time.
Players have different goals. One player may have a dream to play Division 1 softball. Another player may have a goal to enjoy playing and learning the game to be able to perform to the best of their ability for as long as their career will allow them. Some players simply choose to enjoy the process and the journey but decide that they would prefer to focus on academics at the next level. We are entitled in life to make our own decisions…dream our own dreams… and be accountable to the process and the work ethic that will or will not get you to your end goal.
You must have dreams and goals to provide clarity and organization to everything you are currently doing as well as everything you are setting out to do in the future. Everything is a process. There are steps to the top. You decide how many steps you are going to take and what is going to be the top for you. YOUR ONLY LIMIT IS YOU!
I have so much respect for baseball and softball players because they are two of the hardest sports to play. There is so much failure involved that your perserverance is tested on a daily basis. With that being said… it is not a game that can be perfected. It is important for those who decide to coach it that they set realistic expectations of players.
The hardest thing for me as a coach and former player at many levels is to witness coaches who choose to disrespect their players, publically humiliate them and/or coach through fear. The main reason this occurs is due to unrealistic expectations, ego, lack of knowledge or all of the above. When you choose to accept the role of coach you become a leader and a motivator. The mission is to educate and inspire every athlete to reach their full potential.
There are definitely different ways to motivate. Different players respond better to different techniques. It is your job as a coach to know your players personally and know what makes them tick as well as what shuts them down so that you can help them respond and bonce back. I challenge the coaches that pull their kids out of the game for making a physical error. What did you teach them? Will it keep them from making an error in the future? Do you see professional athletes getting pulled in the middle of the game for making an error? How would you feel if you were the player that made the error? Is that choice a detriment to the team at some point in the game?
I do not believe in coaching through fear. I believe in setting high expectations and standards. I believe in holding players accountable to the expectations. I believe in teaching players the game through good communication and a process of good work habits. It is the player’s responsibility to bring a good attitude and work ethic to all practice and games.
My passion is softball. My motto in life is aspire to inspire. I chose to coach because I want to be able to share my knowledge, experiences and my ability to connect the dots with as many people as I can to help them reach their highest potential. I have been extremely fortunate to cross paths with some of the best coaches and players in the sport of softball. I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say “because of you I never gave up…because of you I dreamed bigger dreams…because of you I received valuable information that helped me get to where I wanted to go.” There is no greater feeling than helping people awaken and reach their dreams. The brightest stars are those who shine for the benefit of others.
Rather you are a player or coach it is important to wake up and know your WHY. Why do you choose to spend your summer coaching and playing softball? What is your purpose? How can you make a contribution to your team? Why do you love to play? If you can keep the simple things in perspective and remind yourself of the why…you will find a great amount of joy on this journey.
Ken Griffey once said, “When you have fun, it changes all the pressure into pleasure.” I remember my summer softball days like they were yesterday. I remember winning, losing, learning, laughing with my teammates, competing, spending time with family, eating, swimming, singing on the microphone on long bus rides and simply just being surrounded by happy people who loved the sport…loved each other and bought into being a part of something bigger than ourselves. My summer softball experience growing up was priceless. I hope that those of you who read this article will choose to reflect on your why and value each and every day that you are given the opportunity to play, coach and honor the game of softball!
Venus Taylor
Taylor Made Softball