Perspective on Player Development

For BBG, our mission is a LOT different than most of the other orgs/teams in our area.  We want to teach the players how to play the game and help them develop … and we want to use our processes for player development to help them develop “off the field” as well.  In addition to producing good ballplayers, we hope to help produce good, confident young women.

Our coaches are competitive and want to win every game. However, we know that it’s not about us … it’s about the players. They need a “safe space” when it comes to the game, where they aren’t afraid to try and fail.  If they see our coaches come unglued over a physical mistake or a mental error, then you can imagine the thought processes in their minds.  So, we encourage them to make mistakes, to try positions they’ve never played, and to embrace situations where they aren’t 100% comfortable.  Of course, by taking this approach, we make short term sacrifices in exchange for what we believe will be long-term gains … specifically, we don’t “play to win at all costs”.  We “play to compete and to learn”.  It’s a game and it’s supposed to be enjoyable, so we put player and personal growth above everything else. 

The other piece of the “perspective/development” puzzle is patience. Too many adults want results immediately, and this instant gratification chase is challenge across multiple aspects of society today. As with academic degrees, whether it be high school or higher, learning takes time … and it’s the same with players and teams. In our current environment, it’s tempting to want to join the “best” team available … and there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with that approach. However, to develop a good team the old fashioned way, but investing time/effort into players (as opposed to the “recruit and replace” method), it might take longer than a season before you see positive results …

Is our approach “right”?  I don’t know … but I do know that a focus on sportsmanship, accountability, and respect is a good thing.  I also know that our players are thriving in our program, and our teams are getting better quicker than we ever expected, as evidenced by their on-field performance and the corresponding hardware they’re racking up.

In closing, here are the 3 questions we think you need to ask your player whenever you need a “perspective check” regarding whether or not things are going the way the should as it relates to her softball journey (I cribbed these from my good friend, Mr. George Rothwell):

• Are you having fun? 
• Do you feel like you are in a positive environment that will help you make progress towards goals?
• Are you learning something each time you step on the field?

If the answer to all three questions is “yes”, your player is doing fine and is where she needs to be … 🙂