Lessons of Baseball

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." - Wes Westrum

It certainly has been an educational T-ball season for us! This was Ethan's first time playing organized baseball, and it was also my first time coaching any sport whatsoever. We learned so much this season:

Lesson #1 - Show up early to the games. This is, of course, for the kids to get in some practice and warm up before the game. Additionally, the parking lots fill up fast and you don't want to have to hike 3 miles to get to the fields. At first, we were dreading the 8am games, but those are the ones where you get the best parking!

Lesson #2: Keep your eyes on the ball! This was a big lesson for all of the kids this year. Since the ball just sits on a tee, you'd think this would be easy - but there is so much going on around them! Whenever they looked at the ball, they would hit it.

Lesson #2b (for coaches): Keep your eyes on the bat! We had many a close-calls when kids were swinging too early, or we moved too slow getting out of the way.

Lesson #3: Swing Level. A level swing all but ensures that the baseball will get past the pitcher and avoid the dreaded force-out at home plate.

Lesson #4: Always run fast. Baseball translation: Hustle! No matter where you hit the ball or how far it goes, if it makes it past the little while line near home, then you run for first base as fast as you can. Making it to base is never a guarantee - even in T-Ball!

Lesson #5: Cheer on your teammates! Ethan knew only one boy on the team going in, but now he has 10 new friends! He was great cheering on his fellow Orioles - after all, it was their first season, too.

Lesson #6: The Coach is always right. Did I mention that I was the coach this year? I learned that little boys don't mind sweating in the heat as long as they are having fun. I learned that the best practices are short repeatable drills. And I learned that "Coach" is a great title!

Way to go Ethan! I can't wait for next season!