I am sure many of you who have coached youth baseball have had this experience. Last night was my first and wanted to share.
Last night I went to watch a player I had coached a few years back play in a fall game for his college team. I had coached this kid since he was 8 up until he was 13 in both little league and club ball. We had moved out of the area and I hadn’t had any contact with him or his family since. I followed his career as I have many of the kids I have coached. I am fortunate to have a number of kids continuing to play past high school.
I really enjoyed watching him play with the same passion and with the same hardnosed style he had when he was 10. I sat with his dad and we talked about the days of little league all stars and club ball and discussed where kids are now and why or why not players continued to play or hung it up.
After the game I waited to speak to the player. We ended up talking for about 45 minutes, His dad had left and we were standing there talking as they turned off the stadium lights. We talked about baseball, school, and life in general. As I walked to my car I realized that was special moment, seeing this kid grow up to be a fine young man with solid foundation that I as a baseball coach may have made a small contribution.
It was a great night and made me think that I hope to cross paths with some of the other kids I have coached in the past as they become productive adults.
It was a great night!!
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