Lesson:

So, what’s the lesson we can learn from the great Geno Auriemma? I love the line that all kids want to be great teammates. That is spot on. If you watch any Tee-ball game, kids are fired up to give high fives and celebrate other’s success. Somewhere along the line, though, players start to lose that love for supporting others. Why? The Age of Social Media. We are constantly told to put ourselves in the spotlight - or else risk becoming irrelevant. The world of Travel Ball has only made this issue worse - with teams designed solely to showcase players' ability and not to foster men of high character and grit. It’s no longer about winning games; it's about being noticed.

So how can you, the player, start to become a better teammate? I think the first step is to acknowledge that being a good person on the field is your #1 priority every single day. How did you go about your business? Success can’t always be measured and celebrated based on stats and outcomes. As players, you need to celebrate and desire the intangibles as well. Did you help and support others who may have been struggling? Did you cheer louder for others than yourself? How you act and who you are get you noticed by coaches and scouts more than Instagram posts.

So here’s the takeaway. As players, take pride in being selfless. Your goal is to help the team win as many games as possible, and that means that even if you personally have a bad game, you can always pick up the guys around you.

Assignment for the Weekend: Hype up a Teammate

Tell a guy you think his swing looks great or that you can tell he’s making big-time gains in the weight room. Give someone confidence and strive to help others achieve their potential. Let’s all be the best hype man we can be this weekend!

For daily motivation like this + access to a pro mentor for any time advice & guidance, click the link below to learn more about Baseball IQ+.

Professional Mentorship for the Modern Player. 

-Mike Castellani 

Director of Mentorship