The scoreboard tells us who won. This is about everything else — the car ride home, the moments beyond the final out, everything that matters most.
Edition No. 01·The Welcome Edition·July 2026
Hi USSSA family,
Nothing says America quite like spending the Fourth of July weekend at the ballpark.
We figured there wasn't a better time than now to light the fuse on something new here at USSSA.
The scoreboard tells us who won. It rarely tells us what mattered most.
This is for…
The parent who always has snacks for the whole team.
The coach whose impact reaches far beyond the final out.
The grandparent who cheers just as loudly for a walk as a home run.
And for all the families of USSSA who spend more weekends at ballparks than at home…
We see you. This is for you.
This isn't about scores or standings. You've got that covered. This is about everything else — the car ride home, the moments that never make the highlight reel, watching your child grow into the person they're becoming, one weekend at a time.
That's what this newsletter is about.
We hope you walk away a little more connected to your kid, a little more confident in the conversations that happen before and after the game, and a little more reminded that the years are short — even when the tournaments feel long.
Now… let's take a look beyond the scoreboard.
🚗The Car Ride Home
One question. One conversation. One connection.
You know the drill.
"How was practice?" "Good." End of conversation.
The first question you ask after practice or a game often sets the tone for the entire ride home. Before breaking down the game, try opening the door to a conversation instead.
This Week's Question
"If you could show me an instant replay from your day, which one would you pick?"
Maybe they'll tell you about a moment that made them proud.
Something that challenged them.
A teammate who showed up for them.
Something they never would've thought to mention otherwise.
Some days you'll get a one-sentence answer. Other days, you'll get a story you never expected to hear.
The important part isn't the length of the conversation — it's creating a space where your child knows they can always talk to you. Because sometimes the best stories aren't the ones on the scoreboard.
Whether they share a little or a lot…
KEEP ASKING.
📚From the Playbook
Great coaches have playbooks. Great parents deserve one too.
This Month's Read
Eleven Rings
by Phil Jackson
Each month, we'll explore one book and share the ideas worth carrying into the weekend.
Our opening play comes from Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson, one of the most successful and influential coaches in basketball history. But what made him remarkable wasn't the 11 NBA championship rings. It was the way he led people.
Eleven Rings is filled with stories about leadership, trust, and building something bigger than yourself. Here are a few ideas from this week's chapters that we think are worth sitting with — whether you're coaching a team or raising a player around your kitchen table.
THIS WEEK · CHAPTERS 1–5
One thing I've learned as a coach is that you can't force your will on people. If you want them to act differently, you need to inspire them to change themselves.
— PHIL JACKSON
Beyond the Quote
Phil Jackson was famous for something unusual. In tight games, he'd often let the clock run instead of calling a timeout, forcing his players to solve problems together.
As parents and coaches, it's tempting to step in the moment things get hard. Sometimes the better play is giving kids the space to wrestle with a challenge and discover they're capable all on their own.
🏆 THIS WEEKEND'S PLAY
Before giving the answer this week, ask:
"What do YOU think we should do?"
CHAPTER 3
There's a story in this chapter about legendary New York Knicks coach and two-time NBA champion Red Holzman. After an 18-game winning streak ended with a tough loss, reporters asked Red what he would've done if the Knicks had won that night instead. His answer was simple:
He'd go home and enjoy dinner with his wife.
Then they asked what he'd be doing now that the Knicks had lost.
His answer didn't change…
Phil Jackson said what he admired most about Red was his ability to put basketball into perspective.
Maybe that's a little perspective worth carrying with us this summer — especially around the sixth inning, when an ump makes a call we don't like.
The game matters. It just doesn't matter most.
What you do for yourself, you're doing for others. And what you do for others, you're doing for yourself.
— PHIL JACKSON
Beyond the Quote
One of the foundations of Phil Jackson's coaching philosophy was the idea that helping the team isn't separate from helping yourself.
When everyone gets better, everyone wins.
🏆 THIS WEEKEND'S PLAY
Catch your child doing something that wouldn't show up on the scoreboard.
Helping a teammate.
Encouraging someone who's struggling.
Picking up equipment without being asked.
Then simply say,
"I saw that."
Sometimes that's all it takes to let them know those moments matter too.
📖 NEXT WEEK
Chapters 6–10.
⚾THE USSSA FAMILY
Celebrating the athletes and moments that make this community special.
⭐Player of the Week
Resilience on and off the field.
Congratulations to this week's USSSA Player of the Week, Brinley Leitch!
Brinley's story is one every parent and coach should take a few minutes to read.
Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, she's learned to compete while managing challenges most people never see — and she's doing it with incredible grit, determination, and a positive attitude.
What stood out to us wasn't just her performance on the field.
It was her resilience.
A reminder that some of the toughest battles our athletes face aren't always visible from the stands.
Parents, I'm talking to you. If you were one of the 5,000+ participants who jumped into the Built Different beta workouts alongside your athlete… thank you for showing up. I was right there trying to keep up with my own kids too.
Every rep, every rating, every piece of feedback you sent us. We heard it all, and we're using it to build something even better for your athlete and family. Watching families tackle the workouts together reminded us why this program exists in the first place.
Every parent wants to help their child become a better athlete. Built Different is a mental fitness program that combines high-energy workouts and mindset coaching to help young athletes become something even more important: confident, resilient, mentally strong people.
Led by TEDx speaker and nationally recognized youth motivational presenter Caden Vittorini, alongside former USSSA athlete, America's youngest certified lifetime fitness trainer, and the nation's #1 Hype Coach Anthony Kasper, Built Different brings movement and mindset together to help develop not just stronger athletes — but stronger minds.
Beyond the Workout
Built Different doesn't end when the workout does. Families can continue the journey through the Beyond the Dugout podcast, where Caden, Anthony, and Chad Scott dive into conversations about confidence, discipline, mindset, and what it means to become your best on and off the field.
Designed to be quick, easy, and a great way to start the morning right! Check out the first 8 episodes on Spotify.
The response has been incredible and we're just getting started.
Loved the energy before each session, the pep talks, and the motivational message after every workout. My son hasn't stopped reminding us that he's 'Built Different!' The podcasts have opened up great conversations with our 11-year-old. Thank you!
— Hector Z.
This program gave our son initiative to work toward what he wants. The guys were engaging and kept it fun. They could get him to work out and help build a habit.
— Abram V.
The content itself was great. Seeing her take responsibility for her hard work — from the small tasks to her diet — was really nice to see as a parent.
— Holly S.
🚀 What's Next
We read your feedback. Now we're building it different.
Built Different will return next season with a completely refreshed experience.
COMING NEXT SEASON
A first-class mobile app
On-demand workouts
Live sessions
Family and team challenges
Daily and weekly missions
Even more ways to help young athletes build confidence, resilience, and character long before game day
Helping athletes grow on the field starts with helping them grow off it.
📸Photo Mosaics
Because some memories deserve more than a camera roll.
This weekend, keep your camera ready. After the event, you'll receive a link to upload your favorite photos and videos.
The dugout celebrations. The sibling cheering from the fence. The muddy cleats. The championship smiles.
Every family who contributes will receive a custom photo mosaic of your event's logo — created from the hundreds of photos shared by families across the tournament.
One event. Hundreds of perspectives. One shared keepsake.
🇺🇸Around the Nation
This weekend in USSSA.
Fireworks, championship rings, and families making memories together.
This weekend, fields across the country were filled with fireworks, championship rings, snow cones, flag socks, sunflower seeds, and families making memories together.
Whether your weekend ended in a trophy, a cookout, or fireworks after the last game — thanks for letting us be part of it.
