A few moments can make all the difference so be sure to keep an eye on the prize!
The teams dilemma
My company’s softball team was comprised of employees and their family members with a skill level ranging from inexperienced to home run expert.
While I never played on the team I was an avid supporter and attended most of the games.
Week after week I watched my co-workers being thrown out at first base one after another.
The first base man would consistently get the throw only moments before the runner touched the bag.
If only there was a way to speed up the runner going from home plate to first base by a few seconds we’d have it made.
I didn't realize the solution until Amanda, age 16, took a turn at bat. After a hit she ran straight to first base and kept her eye on the first base coach the entire time.
She didn’t need to know where the ball was, the first base coach knew and would signal her if she should round to second or stay at first.
Amanda had learned on her high school team to trust the first base coach and avoid watching the ball. She got on base almost every time at bat.
I spoke to the team after the game and gave them my observations. We agreed that If everyone stopped watching the ball in flight and only focused on the coach we’d be certain to win the next game.
The following week, we didn’t win.
While the team was aware that they watched the ball in flight and that it was a waste of time, it had become instinctive. Changing the bad habit was going to take more than a week but now we knew where the change needed to occur.
We got better and made it to first base a little more often. We even won a few more games than expected.
The important thing was that we kept focus on our true goal which was to have fun. While I personally wasn't part of the actual team I was part of the team culture and proud to play my position as well.
