I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I just saw an article that reiterates this point. Winning is not the ultimate, “all important” thing for most players. I remember being asked what I liked most about playing softball and the first thing that came to mind was: my teammates! Being part of a team and enjoying the interaction with the others on my team were some of the most enjoyable times I had as a softball players. Yes, I liked the competition. Yes, I liked the challenge. Yes, I liked making plays and hitting the ball and all that “softball” stuff. But the thing that made that all so memorable were the other people involved.  The memories I still hold to this day, the things that have lasted, include the relationships I built during my time as a player.

There are various reasons I know that WINNING isn’t everything (for players), especially at the 10U level. It really does bug me when I see coaches at that level making it only about the win or when they are obviously driven by the win more than anything else. I guess I believe that coaches should be out there to help the players have the best experience possible. When you can see that there’s such a huge discrepancy between what’s most important to the coach and what the kids want it’s disturbing.  At least it is to me.

Anyway, go ahead and read this article, then leave a comment here to share your thoughts and opinions. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!