A new year brings resolutions and a new set of goals for the year ahead. Let's remember to co-create the goals we set for our players and teams, include the parents. It is a shared venture.
It’s clear to us that as we communicate with one another that we must come to realize that we; Coaches and Parents are on the same side. We all want the same things. We have common goals in this venture and we have to focus on these goals and not allow selfish, egocentric goals to get in the way.
Below, we have listed these Common Goals as we see them. We had a similar list developed for a Babe Ruth Baseball League while I was commissioner of the league. They all begin with “Our kids …” because the only reason we adults are there is because of our commitment to the kids. There can not and must not be any other reason. The focus throughout these articles will be on the basic fact that this game is for the kids. We adults are coming along in this venture to make sure that it is a great experience for them.
We didn’t list Sportsmanship directly. The dictionary defines a sportsperson as someone who is enthusiastic about the game; who abides by the rules of the game and accepts victory or defeat graciously. It's more than that -- it’s a very complex concept that is hard to pin down directly so we have tried to involve all of the different aspects of sportsmanship that we could think of in the stating of these goals.
Our Common Goals
1. Our kids will have a great time playing our game.
2. Our kids will learn a lot of new skills.
3. Our kids will improve on a lot of their physical abilities.
4. Our kids will learn a lot about this great game; its rules, its history, its place in the
world.
5. Our kids will acquire new, worthwhile relationships with fellow team players.
6. Our kids will have opportunities to compete responsibly with players on the
opposing teams.
7. Our kids will learn new, positive forms of personal responsibility and self-discipline.
8. Our kids will learn to deal positively with authority figures, e.g., coaches and
officials.
9. Our kids will have great respect for the game, for their coaches, for their parents
for the officials, and above all, for themselves.
10. Our kids will be well-rounded individuals, with great personal growth and a sense of
who they are and how they relate to and interact with the people in their lives.
That is my list. You may want to add to or subtract from this list. You Parents may want to personalize it and rewrite them in this way:
Reese will have a great time playing this game.
Reese will learn a lot of new skills.
Reese will …
Go back up to the ten goals. Copy them; put them in your team and league newsletters; insist that all of your Coaches subscribe to them and coach the kids accordingly; insist that all of the Kid’s Parents or Guardians subscribe to them and deal with their Kids accordingly; and insist that your League Officials subscribe to them and run the league accordingly.
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