Baseball is many things to many people. After numerous years in the game, at literally every level, the Headfirst Gamers coaching staff shares the hard-earned perspective that baseball is a superb teacher. Trophies get stored in dusty garages, scores disappear from memory and batting averages — fictitious characters to begin with — are soon enough swapped for ATM PIN #'s and taxpayer ID's in the closets of our mind. But for the true lover of the game, the baseball experience teaches lessons far beyond the chalk lines, box scores or stat sheets — invaluable lessons that we have come to cherish as we move ever-further from our days as ballplayers. The importance of risk-taking, dealing with failure, the "we" vs. the "I" concept, concentration and commitment to self-improvement through hard work are a few of baseball's favorites. These lessons, more than any other features of our upbringings aside from the love of family and education, have made us who we are. As such, we feel a great debt of gratitude toward the game. This is why we coach.
Human beings are, admittedly, competitive by nature. We all like to win. Coaches, by definition, are ultra-competitive human beings, lest they find a new line of work. Our coaching staff is not an exception to this rule. We loved to win ballgames as youngsters, as collegians and as professionals. Winning adds to the experience of playing the game. Unfortunately, however, undue importance has been placed on winning and individual success as ends in our sporting culture, particularly at the youth level. These shortsighted emphases are crippling in their impacts on the development of young ballplayers. We are not seeking to place blame or indict youth sports. We are in the business of finding solutions to these challenges.
When "gamers" are gathered together in an environment that stresses the "we" over the "I" and the pursuit of excellence over the win, special things can happen. Most notably, chemistry develops that is best described by the whole being greater than the sum of its individual parts. On these teams, individual performances are raised beyond expectations, from the most accomplished players to those of us whose entire careers are marked by effort rather than talent. Practices are more than tolerated, they become gems to be collected and polished. Smiles and high-fives are traded like bubble-gum cards. Most important, teachable moments seem to always spontaneously combust. We will win ballgames, but as a by-product of this developmental approach rather than as an overriding goal. This is our vision for the Gamers experience.
The members of our coaching staff have all been lucky enough to be involved with these types of teams. We anchor our philosophy in these experiences and in the fond remembrance of being youth ballplayers.
We hope you will join us for an unforgettable baseball journey.