BEYOND THE SCOREBOARD

Last month, our playbook came from the pages of Eleven Rings.

This month, it comes from somewhere different.

It began at the opening ceremonies of the National All-State Championships.

One state at a time, 2,200 young athletes representing 43 states emerged from the tunnel behind their state banners and ran onto the field at Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun football stadium as thousands of parents, grandparents, siblings, and coaches filled the stands.

By the time the final state had been announced, every corner of the field represented a different part of the country.

Then, before an unforgettable week of baseball ever began, the stadium fell silent.

The message that followed wasn't just about baseball. It was about making the most of the moments we have, both on and off the field.

Rather than rushing through that entire message in one week, we'll spend the next four exploring the ideas that stayed with us long after the stadium lights went out.

Part One · Every Journey Has a Beginning

I want everyone to look around this stadium for a second.

43 states. 2,200 of the best young baseball players in America, all in one place, all at one time. Moms and dads, coaches, grandparents. This moment belongs to you, too. You helped build it.

Take it in.

Now, I'm not going to stand up here and tell you to follow your dreams. You've heard that speech. You could give that speech.

Instead, I want to show you some numbers. And I'll warn you right now, a couple of these numbers changed the way I look at this game. I have a feeling they're going to mess with you a little, too.

2.4 million. That's how many kids in America play organized youth baseball. Every single one of them started exactly the way you did. With a glove that was too big and a tee setup in the backyard.

Hold onto that number.

Research on youth sports says roughly seven out of ten kids walk away from the game before they turn fourteen. Seven out of ten, gone before they ever try out for their high school team. Some got hurt. Some got cut. Most of them just fell out of love with the game.

Then the stadium sees one final number.

You didn't luck into those seats. You earned them.

One early morning, one extra rep, one long car ride at a time.

Now, here's where most speeches end. "You're special. Keep working. Thanks for coming."

But that's not where this one is going.

TO BE CONTINUED…

NEXT WEEK · PART TWO

You Can Count What's Left

There's just something about the car ride home.

Kids aren't expected to look you in the eye, which takes a ton of pressure off. They know the conversation has a natural ending. And somewhere between the ballpark and the driveway, they often share things they never would across the dinner table.

Each week, we'll offer one simple question to help you get to know your child a little better. Not by interviewing them or looking for the "right" answer, but by creating small, consistent moments of connection.

Keep asking. Keep listening. Answer the question yourself.

Those little conversations have a way of becoming the big ones when they matter most.

This month, we're continuing our Car Ride Home series with four questions designed to help your athlete step into the new school year with confidence.

Confidence isn't built by asking, "Are you excited for school or for the big game this weekend?" It's built by helping kids recognize who they are before they walk into a new classroom or onto the field.

As parents, it's easy to notice how much our kids have grown physically.

New shoes.
Longer legs.
A backpack that somehow seems smaller every August.

But some of the biggest growth isn't nearly as obvious.

Maybe they learned to ride a bike.
Maybe they finally read a chapter book on their own.
Maybe they learned how to lose with grace, apologize first, or kept trying after failure.

This week, help your child look backward for a moment before they step into a new school year.

Sometimes the fastest way to build confidence is to realize how far you've already come.

And don't forget to answer the question yourself. You might realize you've grown more than you thought, too. 🙂