Spring Training

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“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” – Babe Ruth

It’s Spring! I know because my five-year-old son, Mr. D, had his first Little League game.

My friend Eric quipped “Isn’t a Little League game at this level where a batter hits and then everything that happens next is an error?”

Well, he wasn’t far off. The games last for an hour. Each side bats their entire lineup and then they switch to the outfield. A batter gets four coach pitched balls. If a hit hasn’t happened by then, they bring in the tee for the child to hit off of. Each team got to bat twice.

In the outfield, the whole team of 10-12 players go out. Figuring out who to throw to is understandably confusing. Who’s on first? Practically EVERYONE.

In one play, a kid on the other team fielded the ball hit by his own team as he ran to second base. Eric laughed, “I wouldn’t even know how to score that. He gets a forced out and an assist? “

The teams practice getting outs but no one actually sits down on the bench as a result.

It struck me as a great lesson in low stakes learning. How to set up environments where hits and errors are all just scored as lessons. Even for adults, we can learn pickleball or improve our writing without going full-on into performance or competition mode.

So here’s to learning to pitch things and trust they’ll teach us something. To swing for the fences and be able to laugh when it all goes wrong and the ball ends up behind us. And maybe if we don’t want to consider sliding for home, we can at least pounce on the finish line when we find it.

 Because even if we’re not in the Spring of our lives, we’re still in training! Right?

(featured photo is mine)

You can find me on Instagram @wynneleon and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/

I co-host a storytelling podcast featuring authors and artists with the amazing Vicki Atkinson. To tune in, search for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or Pocketcasts (and subscribe) or click here. Or the YouTube channel features videos of our interviews. Please subscribe!

My other projects include work as a CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer), speaking about collaboration and AI through the Chicago Writer’s Association, and my book about my journey to find what fueled my dad’s indelible spark and twinkle can be found on Amazon: Finding My Father’s Faith.

76 thoughts on “Spring Training”

  1. I looooooove watching this age playing team sports. I remember my middle daughter running down the soccer field just holding hands with her friend laughing, not really worrying about fielding the ball, but so enjoying the game.

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Oh…even if we’re not in our own personal Spring, we’re still in training. So good! Love hearing about little league fun and the glimmers you and Eric glean. 🥰❤️🥰

    Liked by 2 people

  4. The last paragraph was perfect, Wynne. Baseball is a great game, in part, because there is no clock. It mimics our youth, when time seems infinite. I am jealous of Mr. D, but hope he enjoys playing the game as much as I did.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. This is both a fun time of the year and such a sweet sport to play. We called Little League something else, I think we called it Three Pitch. The same idea of every person getting to bat then switch. Such a fun summer evening activity to be a part of and I thank the parents who helped supervise us.

    There is something indeed wonderful about these low stakes learning opportunities. And wishing all the kids a lovely season ahead!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Isn’t that fun that there are different versions of this all over — but are all great activities and fun?! Yes, here’s to low stakes learning opportunities! Have a great week, my friend!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. YES, YES, YES Wynne to this suggestion:
    “So here’s to learning to pitch things and trust they’ll teach us something.”

    What a life-learning lesson my friend. Cheers to Mr. D! ⚾🧢🏏

    Liked by 2 people

  11. We are most definitely all still in training, Wynne! When my girls first played soccer, they played without a goalie. It was quite funny. My favourite part was always the kids who got so excited to have possession of the ball they’d shoot it into their own net. 😂

    Liked by 1 person

  12. What a nice way for kids to get started in sports, especially team sports. Wouldn’t it be terrific if everything we did started this way, with fun winning out over competition?!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. As a Brit I haven’t a clue about baseball… but I do enjoy it any enthusiast can simplify the skills required for a particular activity (whether it involves a violin, carpenter’s tools, golf clubs or whatever) and teach with enthusiasm, patience and understanding… particularly with children. When the emphasis is enjoyment, we appreciate effort and redefine success – both as parents and children, and we move on to the next stage – whatever that is.

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  16. That’s a great way to teach kids the nuances of the game, on offense and defense. Maybe if my son’s little league had followed a similar structure he’d have wanted to stick with it longer.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Love this and your words, Wynne:
    “So here’s to learning to pitch things and trust they’ll teach us something. To swing for the fences and be able to laugh when it all goes wrong and the ball ends up behind us. And maybe if we don’t want to consider sliding for home, we can at least pounce on the finish line when we find it.

    Renee sooo wanted to take Sienna to the game yesterday.. we all vetoed her choice at 19 months but soon the “pitching in” will be met with a “you’re out!” lol 😂

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I try my best, Wynne. You’ve got that right! Maybe there’s a game and Renee can take the kids and Ms O can help and we can roam the restaurant’s and eat….. 😂 I don’t know the players anymore.

        Liked by 1 person

  21. I have such fond memories of my kids playing Little League. We met so many wonderful people, enjoyed the same antics of the players as they honed their skills and learned the game. It makes sense that all of this is a good lesson in life. So much wisdom in this post Wynne. Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Having coached little league for a couple of years, it’s sad to me how quickly adults can turn what should be a joyful experience into intense competition. This level is just fun, but in a couple of years, you’ll see parents who have lost all sense of reality and put way too much emphasis on winning. I’m not against competition, but there’s plenty of time for that when kids get older.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. I love that observation “the batter hits and then everything that happens after that is an error.” The way you described it, “where hits and errors are all just scored as lessons,” ”low key lessons” you called them indeed is as we learn for a lifetime. Even those who rail against participation trophies would never have gotten where they are without having had the opportunity to fail and having someone explain how to grow better

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Hi! Trying to grow my blog. I’m not a spam comment, I’m just trying to connect with other writers on here and grow my page. Follow for follow back? Sincerely, Mikayla Scotlynd Littrell (MetsMadness the blog)✍🏻

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  28. Your team beat my team last night 4-3 in what sounded like a pretty good game. I am enjoying hearing about little league and Mr. D. It sounds like he is learning, growing, and having fun. There is pure joy in the game of baseball whether it is at T-Mobil park or in the local park with little kids and adults cheering them on. Have a fabulous Tuesday.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ah Clay, the Astros must have been thrown off by the terrible weather. Not a pretty day here!

      Pure joy in the game of baseball — love that you said that and how you find joy all around! Hope you have a great Tuesday!

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Great post, Wynne, and I love this line: Because even if we’re not in the Spring of our lives, we’re still in training! Right? Definitely! Our kids didn’t play little league, but they played basketball as they got older, and watching them was so exciting. But one game, my daughter ran to the wrong side. Oh well! 🙂 Lessons to learn in all phases of life. Have a good weekend! 💞

    Liked by 1 person

  34. I like when you say that we should be able to laugh when it all goes wrong. It would help to change perspective and go on because we learn from our mistakes.

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