inthedougout

Just let the kids play. My childhood was full of pickup football, basketball, and baseball games.  Never ending, really.  For better and for worse, my parent's weren't the type that signed me up for organized sports.  I had stints of playing little league baseball and later on wound up playing sports at school, but I never fully experienced the scene that is "youth sports." My first real experience with youth sports has come as the parent of a little leaguer and not-so-soon-after, a coach of a little leaguer.  As my child explored a passion of his, I found a passion of mine, which is coaching youth sports.  I take the job fairly seriously, but I do not take myself very seriously.  I take my role seriously; I believe my job is to instill hard work, team work, and a positive attitude into these kids.   Based on a few years of coaching, I've come away with a few thoughts.    1.  Praise like hell.  It's enough hard for them.  From time to time, it's f

Sparkle on like the star that you are. It's January 1, 2019 and the New Year is officially upon us.  For me, the new year has always meant broken promises and commitments.  Don't get me wrong:  I love the concept of a new year; a fresh start, a clean slate.  But the reality is not so cut-and-dry.  I am, in fact, a product of my previous years with 2018 serving as the greatest influence as to what I will do in 2019.  My bad habits and, oh, are there many, will be with me when I wake up in the morning.  The garage will still be a mess.  My finances will be kind-of-sort-of organized (but never quite in the way I want them to be).  Several books will continue to collect dust on the bookshelf.  Knowing this, how will I choose to approach my new year?  I will bring the optimism that only a new year can bring and pair it with a desperately-needed warm cup of coffee.  And when the optimism and caffeine wear off?  It's at that point -- whether it be a day from now or a month fro