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Last updated
12-08-09 01:24 PM
 
The Next Level Softball
Jerry Delamater
951-764-8495
P.O. Box 231236
Encinitas, California
92023
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The Wizard of Oz Award
This award is given out each week to the player who exemplifies all three attributes sought by the characters in the movie The Wizard of Oz. It is my belief that these three characteristics (Heart, Brains and Courage) are imperative for an athlete to be able to reach their maximum potential, and to perform at the highest of levels. The player or players chosen to receive this prestigious award after each tournament are the ones who have displayed all three elements in exemplary fashion.
BRAINS: Intelligence continues to be an important contributor to a player's success. Often times overlooked, the intelligent athlete uses more than just physical skills to excel in their particular sport. Understanding pitchers tendencies, studying how field and weather conditions can impact the game, observing the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing teams players, and anticipating the play before it happens, are a few examples of how athletes can take their game to The Next Level by using their intelligence.
HEART: Also described as passion, heart is one of those intangible traits that all coaches look for in their players. This is about eating, drinking and sleeping the sport you love. Its about getting as excited to go to a practice on a Wednesday night as you would for a Championship game. Its about striking out and knowing that you will get them back your next at bat, or making an error and wanting the very next ball hit to you. It turns average players into good players, good players into great players, and great players into Hall of Famers. One of lifes simplest pleasures is loving what you do
and you have to absolutely love to play this game.
COURAGE: Courage is the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty, or pain without being overcome by fear or being deflected from a chosen course of action. Simply put: You Can't Play Scared! You cant be afraid to fail, and you have to understand that you will experience failure, but you want to try it anyway. Those who possess this final piece of the puzzle want to pitch in the big game. They want to be up with bases loaded, two outs and down by a run. And they want the ball hit to them if that same situation were reversed. It doesnt mean that you dont experience normal human emotions in stressful situations, such as nervousness or anxiousness. But those with courage find ways to overcome these emotions and will themselves to be successful. You have to trust your abilities and make it happen.
-- Chris Facione
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