This document summarizes the first season of "Coach Dave", which shares life lessons learned from over 40 years of experience in baseball. The 10 lessons covered in Season One include creating a learning curve for players, valuing people over results, not overstepping your role as a coach, asking questions rather than making assumptions, allowing other perspectives to help you grow, practicing what you preach, creating an environment for growth and restoration, realizing good intentions don't always work, noticing and avoiding poor leadership, and preparing every day for opportunities. The document encourages ordering the book to use these lessons to teach players, parents and coaches.
1. Al Ainsworth has loved the
game of baseball for over 40
years as a player, youth league
and high school coach, broad-
caster, baseball dad, and fan.
Now he brings you…
Life Lessons from
Coach Dave:
Season One
Coach Dave:
Season One
2. Create the learning curve.
Lesson #1
“I may ask you to do some things in practice and
in games that you don’t quite understand. I’d like for you
to trust me…and do those things to the best of your
ability.”
--Coach Dave
3. Value people over results.
Lesson #2
“When (your opponents) make a good
play, cheer for them. That not only shows respect for the
game of baseball, but it also shows that the boys who are
playing it are more important to you than the game itself.”
--Coach Dave
4. Don’t overstep your role.
Lesson #3
“…this was the first scrimmage. It didn’t count
for anything but practice, but you’re trying to take over a
team that you…didn’t…volunteer…to…coach.”
--Dean Ford
5. Don’t assume. Ask questions.
Lesson #4
Bruce stared at me. “How do you know all that?”
“Simple. I asked Rob and he told me.”
--Brad Baker
6. Allow other perspectives to
cause you to grow.
Lesson #5
“Hudson came up to me—he’s eight years old
at this point, mind you—and said, ‘Dad, these people aren’t
here because Bobby died; they’re here because he lived!’ I
don’t know who told him that, but I’ll be forever grateful
for whoever gave him that perspective.”
--Charlie Jones
7. Practice what you preach.
Lesson #6
Both sides watched with mouths agape as the
Scarlet Knight coach came to a stop in front of a very
befuddled Jake Lofton. Extending his right hand, Coach
Dave then gripped little Jake’s hand in both of his and
pumped it up and down several times.
8. Create an environment
for growth and restoration.
Lesson #7
“I haven’t been a very good friend since Christmas break
when my dad left. I know that’s my fault, and I have been
trying to figure out how to make it right with the guys. I
think that after being with some of them at your house
today, we can go back to the way things used to be.”
--Bo Nelson
9. Realize that good intentions
don’t always produce
positive results.
Lesson #8
“Dad, could you please just be quiet!”
--Cody Trimble
10. Notice poor leadership.
Don’t succumb to it.
Lesson #9
“They’re just reflecting their leadership,
Rooster. We’d do well to reflect ours.”
--Dean
Ford
11. Prepare every day
for that big break
that may only present itself
.
Lesson #10
Suddenly, Bo squared and pushed a bunt just past the lefty
toward the second baseman. Bo was out by a step as Wyatt
sprinted across the plate with the first run of the game!
12. These life lessons and more are part of youth baseball experiences all over the
world—when they are intentionally brought to light by coaches and parents.
Coach Dave: Season One is not only an entertaining story but an opportunity for
players, parents, and coaches to learn life lessons...through a game!