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Winning With Class
In growing up and participating in sports, there is consistent emphasis placed on being a good loser. "Keep your head up;learn from your mistakes; get 'em next time!" All of these are common phrases associated with losing with dignity. While handling defeat is important, a big part to becoming a champion is learning how to win. With today's professional sports filled with egos and attitudes, showboating and taunting, you as a champion must understand how to win with class. Winning with class means respecting your opponent, being gracious and humble, and carrying yourself as if you have done this before. Celebration is okay. In fact, it's natural to feel good after you've won. But just as it feels great to win, it is very difficult to lose. Winning with class shows that you understand the pains of defeat and do not intend to step on another player when they are down. Your opponent will respect you much more if you control your emotions and show dignity, rather than rub their noses in it with brash behavior and self-glorifying gestures and dances. You will be a champion! You will win many awards, receive great report cards, and win many games. You will be a leader and a role model amongst your friends. Winning with class will help you to remain grounded and respectful of others, and it will help others to respect you and remember how fun it was to play against you. So, the next time you see a basketball player talking trash after a dunk, or a football player dancing and shouting after a tackle, place yourself in the shoes of the loser and remember how it feels to have a game winning home run hit off of you. And when you strike out the final batter of a well-pitched victory, pump your fist in celebration, and then carry yourself as a mature person who has won before. Always shake your opponents hand, and be conscious of how a true champion is to act. Over the course of your playing days, you will find yourself in many winning dugouts, and you will experience your share of losses. But when your name is in lights and you are the one collecting multi-million dollar paychecks, those that you've beaten on your path to the big leagues will remember you as a fierce competitor and a gracious champion. They will proudly and happily say to their friends: "Man, I used to lose to that guy all the time!" This tip was contributed by Dan Keller (Lifeletics Sports Instruction / www.lifeletics.com). More tips like this one can be found at www.eteamz.com/company/instruction. CATCHER - UMPIRE RELATIONSHIP Some notes which works for me in making catchers understand the Catcher-Umpire relationship throughout the game. 1. The Catcher needs an umpire...without one there is not game. Mr Umpire is going to be there no matter what. 2. Good honest conversations...as the game goes on it is important that the lines of communication are open. 3. Don't try to trick or embarrass an umpire...give him the respect he deserves as an official of the game. 4. If there are question on pitch locations, ask the Umpire if it is your method of receiving the ball that is causing the concern. Your Framing, Swaying or Positioning may be affecting his view. 5. Receiving pitches on the Lower-Inside & Lower-Outside are the most difficult. Ask the Umpire if your technique is correct. The Catcher may have to work on "Sticking the Pitch" & "Raking the Pitch". 6. Is the catcher trying to make "a ball" "a strike" too much, honesty in where the pitch is located. 7. When a Catcher is "Vocal" and knows the Defense an umpire knows he will deal with the "Coach on the Field", "The Catcher". Very seldom will I as a catching coach have to make a trip to the catcher in a game. If I have to talk with him it will be between innings and not during a game. 8. Umpires are human and make mistakes, so he owes you one, and he knows it! 9. A good Blocker of the ball is very important...protect Mr. Umpire and he will reward you. 10. If a catcher uses the Hook Method of retrieving on pass balls, this saves the catcher from running into the umpire while attempting to retrieve the ball. 11. Proper Pop-Up Method...again keeping the catcher away from bumping into the Umpire while picking up the flight of the ball. There are many drills out there to work on proper Funnelling, Framing, Swaying, Sticking & Raking the Pitch, Pass Ball Technique, and Pop-Up Technique. Good Blocking Technique - knowing how to "Round Out" "Glove Then Knees Technique " & Quickness Drills. One that comes to mind is Bob Morgan at Indiana (excellent tape on some of these techniques). But, all in all, a Catcher again is the "Coach on the Field" and he must earn his respect from Mr Umpire - by knowing his position - a Catcher. Finally, anytime I hear someone call the catching gear "Tools of Ignorance" will get my undivided attention. Catchers are NOT STUPID and the equipment they wear are the "Tools of Excellence". Catching is the most demanding and most important position on the field and the catcher should be given much attention in preseason and in practices, treating them as number one. Especially when it comes to batting practice - the catcher should be the first one, Number One. It is the Coach who is Stupid for not coaching number one - The Catcher. Submitted by: Tom Dufour, Catching Coach |
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