Have I ever told you that my kids play baseball? 
We play for Champion Baseball League where I am an assistant coach and a member of the Committee. It is a ton of fun for the kids, and we love the distraction in the spring and early summer. The league is designed to not be a competitive league, so we try to avoid the problems that other leagues run into when things get too competitive. This is not to say we don’t encourage the kids to win, we do indeed. However, as I’ve told all of the teams I am helping with, I’d rather have the team play their very best and lose than play slipshod and win.
We try to use the “Christian Winner’s Creed” to help teach the kids the proper attitude when playing. “A true winner always does his best, never to the glory of self, but always to the glory of God. With the Lord’s help, I will strive to be a true winner today.” And while I am not naive enough to think that everyone who reads this will believe the same we do, I think everyone can appreciate the sentiment of the statement. When you hit the field (or the books, or the office), you should give it your best. If something is worth doing, it is worth giving your best to it.
I don’t pretend that we are perfect in our league, nor do I think we have perfect kids. But we do hope that our focus will help avoid some of the bad things we see and hear about in other leagues. I’m sometimes shocked when I see and hear what goes on in other baseball leagues. I know there are areas that I want to see my kids succeed and especially areas where I may not have achieved. But to be so focused on sports that I drive my kids batty and “show out” at their games, that doesn’t compute to me.
As our season draws to a close, we are all looking forward to the free weekends again, but that is not to say we love baseball any less. As with all things, our baseball season must come to a close. We will be anxiously awaiting the fall when we start again with “Fall Ball” instructional baseball.
CC
