"The team seems to have lost their way...can you help?"

So today I was asked to give a talk to a baseball team about what winning means to me.

The problem is, this was the young kids' first exposure to BALL, and the manager was new to coaching young kids. Oh, and they have a record of 2-6 and are probably out of the league's playoff picture, even if they win the rest of their games.

The time to condition the kids to the ups and downs of the season should be the preseason. That way, you can manage expectations as the season unfolds.

Success is the peace of mind in knowing you did your best sounds good, but when your team is in the middle of a losing season, sometimes those words ring hollow to the kids...and the parents.

So the conclusion I came to was to repeat something one of my coaches taught me - namely, keep your focus. You are only as good as your next play. And as long as the batter is still in the box, you've still got a shot at success.

This fits perfectly into Wooden's task-based approach to coaching. Focus on the task at-hand, and let the rest take care of itself.

And that flows into another logical Wooden Maxim...Make each day your masterpiece. Then, as we say in marketing and sales, break it down to the ridiculous.

Make each day your masterpiece.
Make each game your masterpiece.
Make each inning your masterpiece.
Make each play your masterpiece.
Make each pitch your masterpiece.

And if the ball still doesn't bounce your way, then focus on the next pitch. What's done is...well...done.

As Wooden says: Don't let what you can't do dictate what you can do.

You're only as good as your next play...

Ted

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Beyond Athletic Life Lessons ("BALL")

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Sports fans everywhere are fans of

Beyond Athletic Life Lessons ("BALL")

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DELIVERY ISSUES

I have gotten scattered reports that some people didn't get the Clemente lesson. If this is the case, please contact me...

Ted Browne
714-334-4023

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Beyond Athletic Life Lessons ("BALL")

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TRIVIA QUESTION about New Lesson Out Tonight

This Hall of Fame right fielder served in the military during the off season, even though he wasn't a US Citizen. Who was he?

Visit the Facebook fan page to see the answer...

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Beyond Athletic Life Lessons ("BALL")

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Robinson Lesson Will Be Going Out Tonight...

Be on the lookout...

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Beyond Athletic Life Lessons ("BALL")

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TRIVIA: Make Each Day Your Masterpiece...

Which Hall of Fame right fielder ran like an "out-of-control windmill"?
a) Hank Aaron
b) Roberto Clemente
c) Babe Ruth
d) Tony Gwynn

HINT: Make Each Day Your Masterpiece. Help Others!

Click on the BALL Facebook Fan Page link below to follow the answer...

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Beyond Athletic Life Lessons ("BALL")

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CATCH THE BALL!!!

BALL is entertaining 200 of its closest friends tomorrow evening at a local high school baseball team's event called "meet the team"...The parents are going to learn about what exactly BALL does, how it started, and how their kids are learning more than just baseball...

CATCH THE BALL!

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Beyond Athletic Life Lessons ("BALL")

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CHALLENGE INFO WILL TRICKLE OUT THIS WEEK...

Be thinking about local kid-centric charities. Which ones do you want your kids to know about?

Sports fans everywhere are fans of

Beyond Athletic Life Lessons ("BALL")

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