A number of years ago, I was coaching my son’s Little League baseball team. I love baseball and wanted to instill a love for the game in these kid’s lives. But more than that, I knew that sports can have a refreshingly positive impact on kid’s lives. One of the boys on the team came from a single parent home and was really struggling at school. He was being picked on by some of his classmates and it really messed with his self-esteem. His mom had signed him up for the league, hoping it would be a positive experience. Through encouragement and the “catch them doing something right” attitude of our coaches, this kid flourished. He became one of our best pitchers. After one game where he pitched exceptionally well, he ran up and gave me the biggest hug and said, “I wish the kids at school could see me now.” It’s times like that make the investment all worth while.
Dr. Henry Oursler is a leadership coach, trainer and keynote speaker who loves to see people develop to their full potential.