Spring Forward to put Youth 1st

We connect Conduct, Character and Community to youth activity programs.  We are developing a series of messages in 2021 around our theme of the 5 R's of Growth.  We are excited to launch the series during Spring Forward MN and will be combining this campaign with our annual Baseball & BBQ fundraiser on May 13-14 at Cashwise Foods in Owatonna, MN.  

The "R" we selected for this kick off is "Be Resilient".  Considering all that is going on in the world, we felt this would be the perfect starting point.  How do we become intentional as leaders, coaches and parents to help our kids learn what being resilient is through their life experiences, especially when playing sports?

What does it mean to "Be Resilient"?  As with most things, it starts with PERSPECTIVE.  How do we see adversity?  Do we view it as "poor me" or "why me" or do we approach it from a growth mindset - as an opportunity to grow, learn, get better, move forward?

I talked about it with my players this spring... what do you do when you strike out or when the umpire makes a call that you disagree with?  Do you analyze what happened and try to learn what you can do to make it better next time?  Do you see it as a challenge to make the play or pitch to that zone or adjust your swing next time?  Or do you let it "get to you" and then spiral into a negative pattern that repeats and gets worse?

Author Jon Gordon once said that "being positive won't guarentee that you will succeed, but being negative will guarentee that you won't."  I recently heard Russell Wilson - QB of the Seattle Seahawks - say that "he plays with emotion, but not emotional".  That makes a big difference!

The lessons that we need our kids to learn through sports are so much more important than the score board or how well they perform.  In fact, the most impactful lessons we learn in life, come from overcoming fear and failure.  Let's help our kids learn to see adversity as an opportunity, a temporary set back that leads to better things ahead.  

We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. (resilience)  And endurance develops strength of character, and character, hope.  And hope will not disappoint....

Thanks for helping us put your Youth 1st!