Beyond the Scoreboard

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

More Than Pink

Do they know why they’re wearing it?

Pink socks. Wristbands. Ribbons. Jerseys. Hats. You’ll probably see plenty of pink around the ballpark this month.

And most of us know why.

But do our athletes?

It’s easy for the pink to become just another part of the uniform. Something the whole team wears in October because that’s what teams do.

But behind all that pink are real people.

Moms. Grandmas. Aunts.
Coaches. Teachers. Friends.
People going through treatment.
Survivors.
And people families are remembering.

So before your athlete puts on the pink this month, take a minute to tell them what they’re representing.

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Wearing pink is a way to support people facing breast cancer, honor survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and bring attention to a disease that affects a lot of families.”

And if breast cancer has touched your family or someone your athlete knows, tell them who you’re wearing it for.

“Do you know who our family wears pink for?”

Coaches, if your team is planning a Pink Out or wearing something special this month, consider letting families know why ahead of time. Give parents the chance to have that conversation before their athlete steps onto the field.

Because wearing pink is a great way to show support.

But knowing why you’re wearing it
gives your athlete a chance to be part of something bigger than the game.

WEAR YOUR SUPPORT

USSSA Breast Cancer Awareness hats are available throughout October.

SHOP THE COLLECTION →

◆ THIS MONTH'S READ ◆

From the Playbook

USSSA · October Read

The Dad Coach

By Mike Matheny

“A coach will impact more people in one year than most will in a lifetime.”

— BILLY GRAHAM

Not a dad? Not a coach? Don’t let the title lose you.

Mike Matheny wrote The Dad Coach through the lens of coaching youth baseball, but it’s really for anyone that’s helping shape a young athlete’s experience.

His perspective comes from seeing baseball at nearly every level. He spent 13 years as a Major League catcher and later became an MLB manager. But he has also been the dad asked to coach his son’s youth baseball team.

On the practical side, this book is a coaching playbook. There are drills, practice plans, ways to evaluate players, develop skills, prepare for games, and keep kids engaged, along with more than 70 QR codes linking to instructional videos featuring Matheny and other experts. For coaches, it’s worth having a copy of your own!

But what we’re focusing on this month goes beyond becoming a better player or coach.

“Character development is even more important than athletic training.”

Teamwork. Hard work. Perseverance. Responsibility. Winning with respect. Losing with dignity. Learning how to be part of something bigger than yourself.

Those lessons aren’t taught by a coach alone. The adults surrounding young athletes have a role to play too.

And before Matheny ever wrote The Dad Coach, he made that very clear.

◆ BEFORE THE BOOK ◆

Came the Manifesto.

When Matheny was asked to coach his son’s youth baseball team, he wanted parents to know exactly what kind of experience he intended to create before anyone signed up.

So he gathered the parents in his living room and read them a five page letter explaining what they could expect from him and what he would expect from them.

That letter became known as the Matheny Manifesto.

The expectations were specific, but the reason behind them was simple:

Keep the experience about the kids.

For parents, that meant being a steady source of support instead of adding more pressure from the stands. Let the kids play. Let the coaches coach. Give your kids room to think for themselves, make mistakes, and take responsibility.

Matheny expected plenty from his players, too. Show up ready. Hustle. Pay attention. Respect your teammates, your opponents, the umpires, and the game. Focus on the things you can control: your attitude, concentration, and effort.

And he held himself accountable as a coach as well. His job wasn’t just to win games. It was to teach the game, develop each player, and make a positive impact on the young people trusted to him.

That letter didn’t just set expectations.
It set the tone for the season ahead.

So this week, don’t open Chapter 1 just yet.

We’re starting exactly where Matheny did.

THE PLAY

Set the Tone

Matheny encourages coaches to use, adapt, or borrow from his original letter when setting expectations with your own team.

Coaches: Take a page from Matheny and set the tone for your season. You don’t need a five-page manifesto. Start by answering four questions:

What do you want this season to be about?
What do you expect from your players?
What can parents expect from you?
What do you need from them?

Then share your answers with your families. And as you write them, keep Matheny’s bigger message in mind:

This is about the kids.

Parents: Before the season starts, answer this:

If your athlete told you what they need most from you this season, what do you think they’d say?

Hold onto your answer. We’ll come back to it in The Car Ride Home.

NEXT WEEK

Section One: Before the Season Begins. We’ll use a few of Matheny’s ideas to start some conversations of our own.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT

Player of the Week

A leader whose impact is hard to measure with a stat.

KATHERINE MURPHY

Texas Elite 30-31 · 13U Fastpitch

Katherine Murphy is the kind of player whose impact is hard to measure with a stat.

The Texas Elite shortstop was nominated for her performance on the field, but both nominations had a lot more to say about the kind of teammate and person she is.

She leads with energy, works hard without asking for recognition, encourages her teammates when things get tough, and celebrates them when things go right.

Her coaches trust her.
Her teammates rely on her.
And younger players have someone worth looking up to.

That same effort follows her off the field. Katherine challenges herself with advanced academics and works just as hard in the classroom as she does at her game.

“

The heart and soul of any team she’s on.

FROM HER NOMINATION

Congratulations, Katherine!

Keep leading, #4.

👉 CELEBRATE KATHERINE

ONE QUESTION FOR THE DRIVE

The Car Ride Home

Earlier, you took a guess. Now ask them.

Earlier, you took a guess at what your athlete needs most from you this season.

Now let’s actually ask them.

This Week’s Question

“

CAR RIDE HOME

What do you wish I did more of, or less of, when it comes to your sport?

Then give them a minute...

In the Matheny Manifesto, Matheny says that if you asked most young athletes what they want their parents to do during a game, they’d probably say: nothing.

What did yours say?

Cheer more. Don’t yell instructions. Don’t ask me about the game right away. Practice with me. Stop reminding me about my mistakes.

Did their answer match yours?

Whatever they said, now you know a little more about what they need from you.

And before you pull into the driveway, tell them one last thing:

“I love watching you play.”

Maybe setting the tone doesn’t always take a manifesto.