Hi USSSA family,
Apparently today is "Take Your Pants for a Walk Day."
A fitting holiday for all USSSA families who just logged about 18 hours in a folding chair at the ballpark this past weekend. If your pants have officially fused to the seat, today's the day to get them moving again.
You've earned it. So have they.
This week, some of the nation's best young baseball players are headed to Lafayette, Louisiana for the USSSA National All State Championship.
This invite-only event brings together athletes from 43 states, all coming together to represent the place they call home.
It's one of the premier individual events in youth baseball. A week of top-level competition, skill-building, and memories that last well beyond the final game.
Good luck to all the players representing their states this week.
GO ILLINOIS! 🎉
If you're attending the National All State tournament this week, keep a lookout for USSSA's brand-new mascot, Trip!
Trip will be making his official debut this week, bringing the energy, smiles and USSSA spirit to your event.
Be sure to say hi, snap a photo, and give him a high five when you see him.
THIS WEEK · CHAPTERS 17 to 22 ← Missed Ch 11 to 16? Catch up ↗
After four weeks with Phil Jackson's Eleven Rings, one theme kept showing up again and again.
The best leaders don't spend all of their energy trying to change the people around them. They spend it becoming someone worth following.
Phil Jackson closes the book with these words:
It's almost the same lesson we began with in Chapter 1:
You can't force people to change. You can only inspire them to change themselves.
Whether you're coaching from the dugout or parenting from the bleachers, our role isn't to control the outcome. It's to create the conditions where our athletes can grow.
We can't swing the bat for them.
We can't throw the pitch for them.
We can't make the play for them.
But we CAN create an environment where they feel supported, encouraged to keep trying, and confident enough to become who they're capable of becoming.
Maybe that's the greatest lesson from Eleven Rings.
Leadership isn't about controlling the game. It's about creating the conditions for someone else to thrive.
Your athlete will remember far more about how you handled the season than what their record was.
The way you celebrate.
The way you respond to adversity.
The way you encourage the team.
The way you handle disappointment.
All these little moments become part of their playbook.
Your athlete is writing one of their own.
Every car ride home.
Every tough loss.
Every celebration.
Every mistake.
Every quiet moment spent together.
They're watching how you respond, and little by little, they're deciding how they'll respond someday too.
That's the kind of leadership, and the kind of legacy, that lasts long after the final score.
We'll continue building our playbook together. One that helps us become better parents, better coaches, and better leaders for all of the young athletes learning the lessons that matter most beyond the scoreboard.
After being diagnosed with severe Levoscoliosis and a tethered spinal cord, Kenadee underwent major spinal surgery last fall with an uncertain road back to softball.
She worked tirelessly through recovery and earned medical clearance just in time to return for the 2026 season.
Her determination, resilience, and love for the game continue to inspire everyone around her.
Welcome back to the diamond, Kenadee.
As we wrap up this month's Car Ride Home questions, we hope you've had a few conversations with your kids that surprised you, made you laugh, or gave you a little glimpse into their world.
Whether they shared a little or a lot, we hope you kept asking. The goal isn't a perfect conversation every time. It's simply showing up, listening, and letting them know you're always interested in what they have to say.
Last week's question invited some deeper conversation. This week, let's keep things light.
We challenge you to ask that question on each car ride home this week.
Don't forget to answer it yourself, too. Even on the toughest days, there's usually one small moment worth sharing. Joy has a way of spreading, and you may be surprised where the conversation leads from such a simple question.
You never know which smile will turn into a story you'll both remember.
Have a great week, and here's to a lot more grins on the ride home.
Baseball just wrapped up the All American Games, and it was a week full of moments worth celebrating.
The spotlight now shifts to Fastpitch, where approximately 1,200 of the nation's top young athletes are taking the field this week for the Fastpitch All American Games.
After earning their spot through regional tryouts and evaluations, players from across the country come together to compete, learn from experienced coaches, and build friendships that stretch far beyond the final inning.
Good luck this week to every player stepping into the box!