Being on a Team

See this picture?? This is what it feels like to be on a team.? A real team.??

The picture is of my 7-year old son.?

It was taken immediately after he got his very first hit of the season.??

But I’m getting ahead of myself.? Let me backup a bit.??

When the little league season started this year, it began pretty rough.? My son’s team (the USC Trojans) started out losing their first four games.? 0-4.? They were winless and dead last in the league.? So discouraging! It looked like the rest of the season was going to be a long slog of losses.? Why?? Simple...

Some of our players just could not get a hit.? Not at all.??

See, in little league there’s a rule.? It says, everybody has to bat.? Everyone.? It’s a great rule.?

It’s meant to make sure all the players on a team get plenty of chances throughout the game to contribute.? Ultimately, it gives all the kids the opportunity to develop throughout the season, regardless of their skill level.? Here’s what the rule meant for our team of 11 young boys…

Our batting lineup started with five really good players.? These kids were big for their age. They had been playing ball for at least a couple of years.? And, as a result these kids got hits and usually scored a few runs a game.?

Next, in our lineup there were three sort-of-good players on our team. They got a hit… sometimes. However, they usually didn’t score. If they did get on base, they were usually stranded.??Why?

That’s because at the end of our lineup there were three kids. These kids were still developing. They weren't very good.? They never got a hit.? In fact, they always struck out.? Thus, they always batted last.??

One of those players was my son.? He happened to wear #11.? And, in an odd twist of fate, he also batted 11th in the lineup.? The last batter.? And, guess what happened during his first 4 games? As expected, he struck out at every at-bat. This was especially painful, because I was the league's official scorekeeper.? Thus, I had to officially record each of my son’s strike outs.? Ouch.??

But the story doesn’t end here.??

As we’ve all been told, sports are at its very best about teamwork.? It’s about bringing people together. It's about creating chemistry.? As any old school Disney fan will tell you....it's All for one, and one for all.

But this basic truth is hard to keep in perspective.? Why?

These kids live in the age of gazillion dollar professional sports contracts.? They watch and cheer on mega baseball teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Yankees.? This can sometimes obscure the value of teamwork. Especially, as these kids idealize players like Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge. These guys routinely crush home runs on each night's baseball highlight reels.? Yet, where's the celebration for the player who beats out a throw to first base?? Or, the player who makes a sacrifice bunt?? Or the two players who get back-to-back singles that then sets up a three-run dinger?? No highlight reels here.

Yet, our volunteer coaches never waivered.? During each and every practice they focused on teamwork above all.? Everyone mattered.? All players helped each other and built each other up.? Always.?They preached, “you can only go as far as your weakest players. And, to go far you need: every single player.? You need contributions from all.”??

So, our coaches took time with each kid equally.? They even went a step further.? The coaches had our five high-achieving players buddy up with our weaker players.? Kids coached kids.? They talked to each other. They used “kid” language.? All the kids focused on how they could help each other.? They listened. They pitched in. And, regardless of the setting, all the players cheered each other on, especially when a kid failed.? There were no huge stars or egos on this team.? Everyone mattered. Every player had a highlight reel, no matter how big or small.??????

Even so, there were times that my son was discouraged.? He didn’t want to play.? He wasn’t making progress.? But, one thing I kept gently mentioning to him throughout.?

“Keep at it. You'll get there. Give it your best. You don’t want to let your teammates down, do you?? They won’t let you down. They need you.”???

And so, he hung in there.??

Fast forward.?? Remember that photo? Here's the set up.

It’s now game five of our season.?

Our team is up to bat.? It’s the very last inning.? We’re down by two runs.? It’s 8 to 6.? It looks like we're going to lose again.? Soon to be winless at 0-5.??

Yet, there’s still hope.? The bases are loaded.? And there’s no outs.? Yes.? We can do this!??

But here’s the problem.? You guessed it.? Our last three kids in the line up are up now.? None of them have gotten a hit all season.? The end of the game now seems like a forgone conclusion.??

Batter #9 goes to the plate.? You guessed it.? They strike out.??

Then, batter #10 is up.? Yep.? They too strike out.??

Regardless, the crowd of parents stay positive.? They and other family members keep cheering from the bleachers.? You could hear phrases like, “You got this!”? “You can do it!”? “Go get ‘em!”??

Now.? We’re down to our final out. That’s when my son #11, comes up to bat. He looks at me as he heads to the plate.? He takes a deep breath. He gives a determined look. Then he gives me a thumbs up as he stands up to the plate. I give him a thumbs up right back.??

First pitch. ? He swings and misses.? Strike one.??

Second pitch.? Swing….and hit!?? What!?!

The crowd watches the ball go straight up the 1st base line and into the outfield.? The bases are cleared.? 3 runs score.? My son hits a double and lands on 2nd base.? We’re now up 9-8!? Everyone is screaming and cheering. We go on to win!

I fumble to get my phone out of my pocket. I hold it up. I then take the picture you see now.? My son, with two fists pumped in the air.? His teammates all yelling and cheering his name. ? A personal triumph.???Wow. I'm thrilled for him, his team, the coaches, the parents. What a feeling.

After the game, his mom and I congratulate him. He got his first hit!? What a victory for him.? Yet,?of course, this wasn’t about him.? At least not all about him. It was really much more. It was about perspective. It was about being on a team. And, soon he corrected me.?

“Dad, guess what?"

"What?"

"I didn’t let my teammates down!”?

"You're right."

There was now a huge smile on his face.? "Wow," I thought as he ran over to the concession stand to join the rest of his team members. They all got snow cones.

P.S.? My son went on to bat well over .400 for the remainder of the season.? He racked up more than a dozen hits.? And, his team?? They won almost all the rest of their games and made the playoffs, where my son got another game winning hit, a triple!? You really do only go as far as your weakest players.