4 minute read
BEING ABOVE THE STANDARD
BY LAUREN ROBERTSON HEAD SOFTBALL COACH - LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
In a season of no Seniors and four starting-returners, we were set for a growth year. The team had bigger intentions, with higher standards and expectations, they turned heads and made a name for themselves.
Being above the standard sets us apart from most programs. These ladies take pride in what is expected of them. They held each other accountable and accepted the consequences when standards were not met.
1. Classroom Matters.
Just passing was not okay for this group. It was expected that they receive A’s and B’s in the classroom. We discussed that “just passing” meant it was okay to “just get by” or “just go through the motions”. Student-athletes should be held to a higher standard, not just to play sports but to push themselves to be ready for real -world situations. They are encouraged to sit in the front of the classroom, be the ones to ask the questions, and communicate with their teacher of work that needs to be completed prior to missing for competitions. I am proud to say ten of our fourteen rostered made the All-Academic team for district 19AAA.
2. Be Prepared.
From having the correct attire, being aware of the weather, to being prepared for the opponent, it is a constant pivot for anything that comes your way. We called it “get to” not having to change or redirect. Changing your mindset with a “get to” mentality suddenly puts a positive aspect and may be some ease of tension, and even some laughs out of the situation.
3. Communicate.
Teaching young, confident women athletes to communicate and have a voice has been very challenging. Getting them to have those hard conversations and knowing when and how to voice their concerns comes with growth. Communication is huge in success on and off the field. Are they communicating with their teachers, their coaches, their peers? Being a small school, these athletes do multiple extra-curricular activities that involve so much time-management and being able to communicate what they need to miss or if they are running behind in another event. Then there are the hard conversations of what they need to be working on to earn a starting spot, or not sure of their role on the team. It may have been a hard practice for them, and they were pushed too much. I believe communication should be pushed on both ends! These athletes do work hard day-in and day-out and to hear from the coach of things to work on or help understanding their role goes a long way. If they know you care, you are in it for them, they can take the hard, and they will go through a wall for you.
4. Have an Approach/Plan.
In life, having a plan keeps you on schedule, organized, and helps tackle busy days. Some of the girls say my practice plans are over the top or extreme, but having them know what the plan is keeps all of us accountable. Have a purpose with everything you do. We had many discussions about anticipating hits and being aware of situations defensively. Getting them to know what pitch is being pitched and aware of the batter, to have an anticipation of how to defend the hit. Offensively, it was an expectation to have an approach at the plate and hunt certain pitches or go from a stride to a no-stride approach. Knowing that our team was not a home run hitting team we needed to execute situational hitting to manufacture runs. As a team, the Lady Eagles manufactured 292 runs with 234 RBIs for the season.
5. How you Respond is Everything.
Our biggest standard we held each other to was how we responded. We took notes over the book, “The Energy Bus,” by Jon Gordon. This team was fueling their life with the right energy. From thoughts to reactions, we respond positively to move forward. Negativity was not allowed on our bus. If something is not going the way we want it to, how we respond next is everything. Being able to have the composure that the next pitch is what matters. How can we get out of the situation we are in, especially when the uncontrollable comes into play? Being a young team, these ladies were impressive to watch, and how they responded in situations was astonishing.
I am proud to say the Lexington Lady Eagles love to be a part of something bigger than themselves. There were many selfless moments, many sacrifices, hard work and dedication for their program.
