Many young people grow up playing baseball. As players grow up, they usually get more serious about the game and becoming competent players becomes very important to them. Playing the game can teach youngsters lessons that can be applied in areas of life beyond the baseball diamond. Many of those lessons become values that last a lifetime.
Self-Reliance
When a baseball player comes to the plate, he is completely self-reliant. Nobody else can help him when he is in the batter's box. Players take batting practice to improve their swing and become more consistent; coaches help them by making suggestions that can help them make more contact. However, once they step into the batter's box in a game situation, it's all based on their own swing and ability to figure out the pitch that is coming. As the young player grows up, he learns that he has to rely on himself and take responsibility for his own actions.
Empathy
Playing baseball puts a player in many pressure situations. In some of those situations, players will succeed and others will fail. When your teammate has success, it's easy to cheer and pat him on the back. However, a good teammate will console his teammate when he fails. This will help that player get over the pain of failing and help him to succeed the next time. When you have empathy for your teammates, you are likely to be more understanding of people who face tough situations later on in life.
Teamwork
Players learn all about teamwork when they play baseball. Learning how to complete a double play, for example, takes teamwork. The shortstop isn't just throwing the ball to the second baseman after he catches a grounder — he is putting it in a position where it's easy for the second baseman to grasp the ball then throw it to the first baseman. The catcher is positioning his teammates on the field so that they are in better position to make a play.
Overcoming Adversity
Baseball players must get used to dealing with failure. If you are a good hitter and have a .300 batting average, that means you fail to get a hit 70 percent of the time. Players go through slumps where they may go 0-for-10 or 0-for-20. When you fail that many times, it can be very frustrating. You might feel like quitting, but you can't. You have to maintain your belief in your self and keep working hard. You have to know that you will overcome your difficulties and succeed again. This is a very valuable lesson in life. People can suffer on their job or in their personal life but they must find a way to overcome.
References
- "Play Baseball the Ripken Way"; Cal Ripken, Jr., and Bill Ripken; 2004
- "Winning the Mental Way"; Karlene Sugarman, M.A.; 1999
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