Recently I have received phone calls and emails from former players, and they made me realize I had accomplished what I set out to accomplish as a coach. I wanted to make a difference, I wanted to help the kids I coached become better people. I once said in an interview for a coaching job that I would rather be .500 with a bunch of players who were good people and wanted to do something with their lives, rather than winning a championship with a bunch of guys who didn’t care about graduation, their future, or each other. I meant that then and I still mean that today, baseball isn’t about rings, its about people.

These phone calls and emails made me understand that I achieved what I set out to accomplish, and I want to thank you for making the calls and sending the emails. I had no idea that I made such a difference in the lives of so many young men, and these calls and emails, gave me the push I needed to get moving again.

When I realized it wasn’t the coaching that I truly missed, I decided to do something that would allow me to stay involved in what I am truly passionate about; making a difference in the lives of the youth.

How am I doing this?

I started an apparel company in which I give $5 from each product sold to the purchase of school supplies. Also, I wrote a book that I sell via email for $5 and I give half of the book sales to the purchase of school supplies. I personally purchase and deliver these supplies. I am starting locally, and then hoping to spread out as the mission grows.

I know I cannot solve the issues that are hurting our schools and our children, but I can do something, and that is what I am doing. My question to you is; what if we all did something, not to solve an issue but to contribute whatever we could to help. If we did that we may find that others close to us will support the mission and it may end up growing to something bigger, and you may inspire someone else to start doing whatever they can do.

If you would like to know more about what I am doing please email me at:

samflamont@yahoo.com

Somebody wins and somebody loses, it is as simple as that.  Why do we continue to shelter kids from losing by holding back greatness.  My brother calls this phenomenon the “lowest common denominator”.  Instead of making everyone else catch up, we slow the best down, we say “stop, the other kids can’t keep up”, we eliminate score boards, and tell the kids, nobody actually won we are just having fun.  So instead of encouraging greatness we settle for the “lowest common denominator” because everyone can achieve that, and that way nobody will lose.  Actually when we do this, we all lose because we stop innovation, or we take away the motivation to be great because in the end the person knows they have a ceiling, and ceiling are what stop greatness. 

I am not for pitting employee against employee in the office because that is a team, and a team is supposed to help each other, and encourage the others to do great things.  That is the beauty of a team, and usually when somebody stands out or does a great job, the others on the team benefit as well. 

Here comes the BUT; but when we enter a competitive environment, such as a product launch, or a sporting arena the idea is to the first and to be the best.  Imagine if companies were forced to scale back their production because the others couldn’t keep up, or if a rule was made that you couldn’t let your best hitters hit if you were up by 5 runs because it makes the other team feel bad.  It isn’t reality, it gives people a false sense of security when you hold back greatness.  When the score is getting out of hand, I say, score more, make the other side stop you, make them produce better products, make them streamline their production so they can ship faster, never hold back greatness. 

Here is a prime example of the lowest common denominator, and an absolute shame.  This kid is so good, the league made a rule to stop him because the other kids couldn’t.  Instead of stopping him, teach the other kids a better angle of pursuit or how to wrap up, but nah lets just make a rule and force him to scale back production.

I know this is a rant, but in a world in which we tell people they can be anything they want as long as they work hard, to reach for the stars, you can do great thing, here we go holding people back.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Youth-league-institutes-TD-limit-to-hold-back-11?urn=highschool-wp6562