Are Community Outreach Programs Worth It?
When baseball programs at the high school and college levels mention they participate in a community outreach program, it sounds great, but does it really mean anything to the players involved? Are players trying to just please the coaching staff, or are they trying to enhance their personal portfolio for a future job?
I am sure every coach has had players who are “pleasers” and will only go through the motions of an outreach program. There also will be players who will gain intrinsic value from an experience but may not realize the impact until later in life. As coaches, we may not see the impact the experiences we are creating for our players, but I have a story that may help you to continue these community experiences.
The outreach program at New Hope-Solebury High School had a player that every coach who has ever attempted to coach would have bet their lives that this kid was going nowhere quickly! This athlete had the worst temper I have ever encountered in decades of being involved with baseball. After some type of baseball mishap -- strikeout, dropped ball, even an ugly swing at a pitch -- the helmet, bat, fist pounding until his fists bled and the F-bombs would fly! He was escorted off the field by the coaching staff a few times after one of these embarrassing tirades. So, what are we going to do with a talented athlete that has the mindset of an angry caveman?
The miracle of being involved in an outreach program with a group of Special Olympic athletes from the area was occurring on a weekly basis. Players were required to attend only once a month for a clinic in order for all to experience giving back. After his first clinic, the athlete that had been described above asked if he could attend the following week! Of course, the answer was yes, and in addition to attending, he started to recruit some of the younger players and offered them a ride. His demeanor with the Special Olympic athletes was calm, and we witnessed him laughing and accepting hugs from some of the athletes. He stayed late after the clinics ended to offer additional help and attended the clinics weekly. During his time at the clinics, he never cursed, raised his voice or lost his cool with any of the craziness that can occur when clinics are being conducted. He became the poster boy for giving back and was the main motivator for all players to attend even when it was not their turn.
I asked the player about his experience, and he commented that seeing and feeling the passion the Special Olympic athletes demonstrated caught his heart, and he wanted them to have the best experience they could. The coaching staff was stunned (but very happy) by this transformation, and we realized that all the time and effort put into a program like this is worth it if some type of personal growth results, even for one athlete.
In 2014, when the USA Games for Special Olympics was held in New Jersey, the player mentioned in the article was asked to be one of the coaches of the Gold medal-winning Team New Jersey baseball team. He was graduating from high school simultaneously as the games were being held, and he figured out how to participate in all the school activities and still coach baseball. After receiving his Gold medal, he had tears in his eyes along with most of us on the field. He mentioned that he would like to continue working with people with disabilities while he attended college. A success story, definitely! Coaches, please continue teaching your players to give back, you never know.