I coached rec baseball, softball and boy’s and girls basketball before coaching travel in each. On the boys side there was a kid I took as my last pick in each sport. The kid was bright, funny and tried hard. He didn’t have much athletic talent. He got his playing time then kept the bench loose. Every year when he got his first hit or basket (at least mid season) he would stop, raise his fist and declare to everyone, “The legend continues!”
Every level was fun. Once in a while with teen travel ball I had to get stern for a moment and explain they have to come to compete every game. Even good teams can take a pounding if they don’t come to play.
When I had to give these talks I tried to remember there were days in college summer ball I woke up thinking, “I’d rather go to the beach today than play two against a last place team.”