I was pulled off dugout duty this week to fill in as third base coach. To be honest, it was a nice change of pace from corralling the team and maintaining their wardrobes. I have never been a base coach before. It always looked pretty simple. Stand next to the base with your arms crossed with a look of concern. Every once in a while adding a “keep your eye on the ball” and making a few comments to your players as they wait to move to the next base. I guess that works for the older kids because as I soon learned, it was not the case in T-Ball. 

Our first batter dug in and had a nice hit which landed him at first base. Our second batter stepped in the box and successfully cleared the infield with his hit. As I was watching the ball roll though the outfield and the six outfielders tackling each other to get the ball, I heard someone yelling for our player to “Go to third!!!” It was the first base coach and he was frantically yelling and waiving his arms for our player to advance, yet he was stuck on second base. At that point I realized I was the hold up. I had made a mistake. I then frantically began waiving the player to third. Thankfully he made it there without incident, but he should have scored a run. 

Have you ever had the feeling that everyone is talking about you? Maybe even pointing? I could just feel the grumbling in the bleachers. What was he thinking? Was he asleep? I had hoped my wife was taking up for me when I heard her yell, “Get in the game coach!” I wish I could say it went better from that point forward…but I can’t. 

A few batters later, with a player at second, the ball was hit to the short stop and the player began to advance and then realized he was about to be tagged out. So he headed to the outfield, intuitively avoiding the tag. After a free for all in the outfield, our player was finally tagged and called out. I felt horrible. First base was open and he didn’t have to run. Yet I didn’t tell him to stay. 

Public humiliation is bad enough when it only involves you. But when it impacts a kid you feel horrible. Thank goodness all they care about at this age is the grape snow cone after the game. 

After the fiasco at the top of the first inning I collected myself and committed to doing better. Besides, if I didn’t, I had a feeling I would be walking to my car with an escort! So I committed to a few leadership principals would assist me as third base coach. 

First, I had to pay attention to the entire game. I could not only focus on the batter, the runner or the players’ position on the field…I had to have a grasp of all the events that are quickly unfolding in front of me. If I became too wrapped up in one of the many moving parts I would render myself less effective as a coach. 

Secondly, I had to provide clear direction. I had to know where they were going so I could let them know where to go. My arms could not remain crossed! I had to be demonstrative and precise. I could not waive a player on into an oncoming tag. I could not hold a player at a base when he could and should advance. I had to learn to balance risk with reward. Could I send a player home with a chance he may be tagged out? Do we need another run to catch up or ensure victory? Either way, once they approached second base they were awaiting my direction to let them know what to do next. 

And lastly, I needed to communicate with my players. I am not a yeller. I have always been turned off by that approach to coaching; However, I quickly learned that I needed to be able to capture their attention that was so easily divided between the parents yelling from the bleachers, their friend at short stop, the game on the next field, their untied shoe, the helicopter flying above, the white chalk on the field, the mound of dirt created by the second baseman laying on the ground, the pirouettes being turned by the left fielder, the smell of the hotdogs being grilled at the concession stand, the butterfly effortlessly floating by…sorry…there are just so many! Any way…as I was saying…I had to learn to overcome the multiple barriers to communication to make sure the message was clearly communicated to the four year old sixty feet away. Trust me…it is much easier said than done. 

Hopefully you have already drawn the parallels yourself. The principals are quite simple, yet in the heat of the game, very easy to forget. If you are a leader, by the mere definition of the name, you are leading others. People are counting on you. They are looking to you for direction and vision. They are awaiting your communication. They are entrusting themselves to your leadership and understanding of the big picture and counting on your ability to maintain the right perspective. 

As a leader these are just the basics of your responsibilities. But if you are like me, on and off the field, sometime is hard accomplish this feat. It is quite a task. Something that you must be willing to evaluate and pay attention to regularly. T-Ball is game. While it is important…it is just a game. As a leader you hold peoples lives and livelihoods in your hands. That is nothing to ever be taken lightly! When you accept the role of leader, you also accept a responsibility, which mostly goes unmentioned, to the people you lead. Yes you owe it to your business, your organization, your committee, your board, your church, your team to be effective…but more importantly, your people. 

Leaders…please don’t underestimate your role. It is crucial. If you need a little practice, try coaching T-Ball.

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