Moraine West Carrollton Little League: Character Program

MWCLL Mission Statement: To implement the best Little League program where strong leadership and excellence of character are taught and demonstrated alongside the fundamentals of baseball and softball in a fun and competitive setting.

“The objective of Moraine-West Carrollton Little League shall be to implant firmly in the children of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect for authority, so that they may be well adjusted, stronger and happier children.” – Article II, Section 1 of the MWCLL Constitution

“To achieve this objective, Moraine-West Carrollton Little League Directors, Officers and Members shall bear in mind that the attainment of exceptional athletic skill or the winning of games is secondary, and the molding of future citizens is of prime importance.” – Article II, Section 2 of the MWCLL Constitution

“Little League . . . is dedicated to helping children become good and decent citizens.  It inspires them with a goal and enriches their lives towards the day when they must take their places in the world.” – 2007 Little League Baseball Rule Book, p. 10

 “If I try to use human influence strategies and tactics of how to get other people to do what I want, to work better, to be more motivated—while my character is fundamentally flawed, marked by duplicity and insincerity—then, in the long run, I cannot be successful.  My duplicity will breed distrust, and everything I do will be perceived as manipulative.” – Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

 “The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are more important than the events that occur.” – Vince Lombardi

 “Think of the people who have influenced you with the silent strength of their character—perhaps a teacher, a coach, a parent, a neighbor, or a pastor.  You may recall the times their integrity and ideals spoke for them during hardships.  In many ways, they were the ones who set the mold into which you have poured your own life.” – Charles Swindoll, Building Blocks of Biblical Character

 “Character is developed and proven in the crucibles of pain and difficulty.  Have you ever known anyone with character who was not well acquainted with pain?  The reason is that hardship, not comfort, tempers strong character.” – Charles Swindoll, Building Blocks of Biblical Character

“If you feel and act like you have just lost World War II, and are kicking the side of the dugout and throwing bats, it’s pretty tough to set a good example.” -- Dr. Thomas P. Johnson, M.D., Prepare the Child for the Path … Not the Path for the Child

 “It’s not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us. But our character . . . does not have to be hurt at all.  In fact, our most difficult experiences become the crucibles that forge our character and develop the internal powers . . . to handle difficult circumstances in the future and to inspire others to do so as well.” – Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.” – Vince Lombardi

 “Character seems more possible in us when we see it modeled in others.  The best mentor is not a how-to book but a life.” – Charles Swindoll, Building Blocks of Biblical Character

“Some main goals of the Little League age child are to gain increased self-control over feelings and channel them into appropriate actions, to increase his ability to subordinate his own wishes for the good of others, to increase the ability to accept delay in gratification, to learn new skills, and to gain the satisfaction of mastery.  Finally, and perhaps most important of all, to feel an acceptance . . . by one’s own substitute father such as [a] coach or manager.” -- Dr. Thomas P. Johnson, M.D., Prepare the Child for the Path … Not the Path for the Child

 “Repetition is the mother of character and skill.” – Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Life

“Almost every day of my life I think of developing it [character] in myself and my four children.  I look for books that I want us to read on character.  I talk about films I've seen that develop character.  I want one thing for them more than anything else: character, greatness of character!” – Charles Swindoll, Building Blocks of Biblical Character

“In the last analysis, what we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do.  We all know it.  There are people we trust absolutely because we know their character.  Whether they’re eloquent or not, we trust them, and we work successfully with them.” – Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

“Who speaks for you when hard times call?  In the midst of a trial, when the pressure squeezes you from all sides, only your character can testify on your behalf.  By character, we mean your moral, ethical, and spiritual undergirding.” – Charles Swindoll, Building Blocks of Biblical Character

 “Teachers, don’t merely stuff your students’ minds with facts and figures; coaches, don’t just drive your players to be a winning team.  Those who work with the public, don’t rely on wardrobe and words more than inner moral fiber.  Remember: who we are is more significant than how we look.  Integrity and courage are more important than image and position.” – Charles Swindoll, Building Blocks of Biblical Character

“Character tends to flourish in later life when good seeds are planted in early life.  Train your children and grandchildren when they are young.  Teach them that good character is what truly matters in life, even more than good grades or a good win-loss record in sports.” – Charles Swindoll, Building Blocks of Biblical Character

 “The key to the psychological impact of the Little League experience is set by the manager.  Place the emphasis on the effort made and not the result.  You can praise a player for his faithful attendance at practice, for his attitude and not just his batting and fielding percentage.  This approach helps build children who keep trying, who don’t coast when they are ahead, who won’t give up when they are behind, [and] who won’t feel the pressure to go beyond the bounds of the rules [or] good sportsmanship to win.” -- Dr. Thomas P. Johnson, M.D., Prepare the Child for the Path … Not the Path for the Child

“If you can’t walk away from the losses, then get into some other role—sell the popcorn or raise the money.” -- Dr. Thomas P. Johnson, M.D., Prepare the Child for the Path … Not the Path for the Child

How to Implement

Your Character-Based Program:

Start by teaching players the concept: “It’s not what happens that’s important, but how you react to it.”  Players’ and coaches’ underlying character will largely determine how they react when confronted with difficult situations on and off the field.  This concept will apply to a number of different scenarios throughout the season for both you and your players.  To get players thinking about how they can apply it, ask them one or more of the following questions (or make up your own) prior to games and practices:

1)      How will you respond after you strike out?

2)      How will you respond after you make an error?

3)      How will you respond if a teammate makes an error?

4)      How will you respond if you think the umpire missed the call?

5)      How will you respond if you are asked to sit the bench by the coach?

6)      How will you respond if the coach removes you from the pitcher’s mound?

7)      How will you respond if there is turmoil during one of your games?

8)      How will you respond if an opposing player trash talks you?

9)      How will you respond if you feel others on the team aren’t giving their best effort?

10)  How will you respond if the team just lost a close game?

Remind players mistakes and other unfortunate circumstances occur during games much like they do in life.  At that moment a player’s character is demonstrated in how they respond.  Remind them the team may be counting on them to make the very next play that could potentially save a game.  That play won’t be made if the player has removed themselves from the game mentally.  During the course of the game each player is faced with dozens of decisions and choices.  Those with character face choices and make the right one or respond appropriately even when the right choice is not made.

Things players do which can be recognized with character awards:

1)      Which player exemplifies what hustle and effort is all about?

2)      Which player exemplifies a good attitude regardless of athletic ability?

3)      Which player compliments teammates as well as opponents?

4)      Which player does not hang their head over mistakes and errors?

5)      Which player is willing to warm-up with anyone on the team (especially with teammates with less ability) and not just their best friend?

6)      Which player accepts their turn on the bench?

7)      Which player accepts the umpire’s call?

8)      Which player accepts batting last?

9)      Which player accepts playing outfield?

10)  Which player never bugs you to play a certain position but patiently waits their turn?

11)  Which player works to improve their game at all times?

12)  Which player does not boast about their play but credits others?

13)  Which player does not make excuses?

14)  Which player picks up a teammate following an error?

15)  Which player threw his bat after striking out last game but laid it down gently this game?

16)  Which player offers to help pick up equipment after practices or games?

17)  Which player makes sure trash makes it to the trash can and not on the ground?

18)  Which player listens to instruction and shows you respect?

Inform players you will look for these behaviors throughout the season and they will be recognized in front of their peers for them at the end of each game.  Always recognize improvement in a player’s character over a previous situation to encourage further improvement.  Remind them all-stars are often chosen at the end of the year based not on talent alone but also on character.

How Character Applies to Managers

To institute a character-based program adds additional responsibility to managers and coaches.  Not only are managers and coaches expected to spend time talking to players about its merits but the level of expectation is raised for them to demonstrate it as well.  It is difficult for a manager or coach to jump up screaming over situations that occur during the game after a pre-game address to players about character’s importance.

Things to Think About:

1)      Will hollering at the umpire make things better or would a calm approach in a dispute take me further?

2)      Will hollering at my player make things better or could my player use some encouragement?

3)      Will cursing make it better or is there some other creative outlet for venting frustration?

4)      Will kicking or throwing equipment make things better or will straightening up the equipment work off the same energy?

5)      Will joining in with riled up parents make things better or will finding a way to diffuse the situation help matters?

6)      Do players see you are disappointed with them when they strike out or do they hear a word of encouragement from you?

7)      Do players see you are disappointed with them when they make an error or are they encouraged to “get ready for the next one”?

“The heart of Little League Baseball is what happens between manager and player.  It is your manager more than any other single individual who makes your program a success or failure.  He controls the situation in which the players may be benefited or harmed.” – Dr. Arthur A. Esslinger, Little League’s Greatest Challenge

“Through the medium of baseball, the manager can reach these children and profoundly affect their future behavior.  It is through the manager that all our hopes and ambitions for the players will or will not be realized.  Whatever good comes out of Little League will be the result of the manager’s leadership.” – Dr. Arthur A. Esslinger, Little League’s Greatest Challenge

Character Award Cards:

One Character Award Card (good for free candy at the concession stand) should be awarded to one player following each game.  Teams who travel outside our league boundaries may obtain candy (in lieu of character award cards) in advance from any MWCLL concession stand to hand out after the game.  Cards may be replenished at the concession stand.

What Will Matter

Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.  There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.  All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.  It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.  Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.  So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.  The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.

It won’t matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.  It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.  Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter?  How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.  What will matter is not your success, but your significance.  What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.  What will matter is not your competence, but your character.  What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.