5 lessons Little League baseball teaches us about life
Win or lose, there’s a lot kids can learn about life from Little League baseball.
Kids can learn a lot of life lessons by playing Little League baseball.
Like many Utahns, I watched the Dixie All-Stars play their hearts out during the West Regional Little League Baseball Championships.
Even though they fell one game short of being the first Utah team to make it to the World Series, I celebrate them as big winners. I couldn’t be more proud to be represented by such a talented bunch of young people and coaching staff.
But as I watched the drama unfold game after game, I couldn’t help but connect the life of Little League with that of life in general. And here are five lessons I learned from watching Little League baseball.
1. Play with integrity
When you share an important experience with others, you count on every member of your team to do their very best. Whether it is your job, family, relationship, church, your health, or even a baseball team, offering a 100-percent commitment and an honest effort is essential for success.
2. Respect teamwork
We all have individual strengths, and we can achieve a lot. But when you combine those skills with others, you get one beauty of a double-play that is more impactful than if you tried to handle it on your own. “Baseball is not a sport you can achieve individually,” said baseball pitcher Curt Schilling. And the same belief holds true in life.
3. Play to win,
even if you lose
We want to succeed because it makes us feel it was worth our time. But when we face some seemingly unfair odds — say, for example, you face a pitcher sporting a beard despite being on a team of 12-year-olds — even if you do lose, there is still value in the experience for future opportunities. I know! I know! Try to explain that to a young person — I get it. But it’s an important lesson on the way short-term goals (and setbacks) shape long-term success.
4. Be ready
I believe that when something means that much to you, another opportunity will present itself when you least expect it. The question is, will you be ready? Will you let the pitch come to you instead of reaching? Will you be prepared for the interview? Will you train better to finish stronger? Will you know what to say when a long-lost loved one re-enters your life? Although it may not be identical to the first experience, life will provide a second chance. Be prepared.
5. Be grateful
As painful as it is to come so close to a goal, one glance over your shoulder will introduce you to others who would gladly take your place. So be thankful for the experience. Despite studies showing that expressions of appreciation and gratitude in the workplace are effective motivators for employees, most managers don’t. And that’s a shame. The good news is that young people can develop a healthy dose of gratitude now.
“Cultivating gratitude can increase happiness levels by around 25 percent,” says author Andrea Reiser, referring to a study by Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California. “It can also cause individuals to live happier, more satisfied lives, and enjoy increased levels of self-esteem, hope, empathy, and optimism.”
You may not get the results you wanted, but there is always room for a little gratitude for the chance to try.
So as the pint-sized boys of summer prepare for another school year, I hope they realize the good examples they shared with us. While this season may have come to a close, the value of the experience and the leadership skills instilled in these future leaders will carry on for many seasons to come.
