My son's USSSA coaches were an amazing group. One had played baseball at a variety of levels, one was a police officer, others were just dads who helped out with the team. But they were terrific role models in all senses of the word.
When the boys were little, they climbed into the stands after a game on Mothers Day to present each mom with a personally decorated baseball and a rose. We thought they'd had practice the night before, it had really been to put together these gifts (I still have the ball).
At Christmas, the coach organized them to adopt a family in need. The project culminated in a team gathering to wrap the gifts. That gathering always included a speech from the coaches on the importance of parents and how lucky those boys were to have the families and advantages they did. We plan to gather the boys this Christmas (they are in college now) to repeat the tradition one more year.
Maybe the thing I remember most was when my mom died. We were at the visitation and turned around to find the entire team there, decked out in slacks and dress shirts, and with the coaches keeping a watchful eye on them. The next day, the coaches were there at the funeral.
These guys taught all our boys a fundamental lesson — a hero is someone who is there for others whenever and however he's needed.