Nine Rules of Baseball
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RULES OF BASEBALL
The
following rules are a brief summary of the philosophy that Junior Dukes
Baseball expects of its players.
1. NO
EXCUSES.
Do not blame teammates, umpires,
coaches, fans, or the position of the moon for your performance. Take
responsibility for what happens on the field. Stand up, make no excuses, and
refuse the excuses that others might offer you. Excuses get in the way of learning
because mistakes are denied. Be accountable. Remember you are not expected
to be a perfect performer. No one is. Baseball is not an easy game to play.
2.
PLAY WITH HONOR.
Always hustle, run out every ground ball and
pop up, encourage your teammates, especially after an error, bad pitch, or a
strike out, carry yourself with pride and dignity. Do not in frustration throw
equipment. Do not ridicule another team or an opposing player's name, physical
appearance, skill. Do not taunt. Do not distract an opposing player with
low-level antics. Be positive with teammates. Never ridicule or criticize your
teammates. They need your encouragement the most immediately after they have
made a mistake. Show your teammates, your opponents, the entire world the values
you hold dear by how you play.
3. BE
RELENTLESS.
Never Yield. Regardless of what the
scoreboard says, you are never defeated unless you give up, unless you go belly
up. No opponent can make you do this. Giving up is something you do. Regardless
of what the scoreboard says, no opponent can extinguish the flame in your heart
or crush the intensity of your will without your consent. Never surrender.
4.
SLAY YOUR OWN DEMONS, THEN SLAY DRAGONS.
Ignore those things outside your control: the
judgments of umpires, the conduct and ability of other teams, the weather, your
amount of playing time, the final score (this is a tough one). Do not show
frustration or disappointment. Do not allow your opponents to gain joy from
your inability to cope with self-pity. Do not throw equipment or whine in anger
or slump your shoulders. Such behavior impresses no one. Maintain your poise.
Learn, prepare, and focus on the next event. We cannot change the past.
Instead, we should focus on the next action with determination, joy, and
resolve.
5.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE THINGS UNDER YOUR CONTROL.
Your effort, your attitude, your commitment,
and your approach to the game are under your control. Be enthusiastic, play
with great effort, conduct yourself appropriately, meet this opportunity with
great joy. Listen to your coaches. Be alert, play smartly, know the signs. You
are always accountable. How you react to situations and circumstances reveals
the person you are and the person you might become.
6. PLAY THE GAME ONE PITCH AT A TIME.
Focus on the current pitch. If you are a
pitcher, what are you throwing now and where? If you are a fielder, what are
you going to do if the ball is hit to you? If you are a base-runner, what are
you going to do on a fly ball, line drive, ground ball, to the right side, to
the left side? If you are a batter, what are you trying to accomplish on this
pitch? If you are on the bench, how are you helping your team be successful?
7.
FOCUS ON BEHAVIOR, NOT OUTCOMES.
The results of your performance are not fully
under your control. The other team may be very good, or very bad. The bounces
may go your way, or not. But your behavior and approach are under your control.
At the end of the game, you, perhaps only, know whether you gave 100%, whether
you did all you could to help your team. Those players who did are winners,
those players who did not are losers, regardless of what the scoreboard says.
Winners take care of the things within their control, enjoy their participation,
and are justifiably proud of their effort. Losers make excuses, lose their
poise readily, wallow in self-pity, and surrender at the slightest sign of
adversity.
8. THE BEST PLAYERS ARE THE BEST LEARNERS.
Players who are coach-able are always
trying to learn more about being successful ballplayers and people. They listen
and apply what their coaches and teachers suggest. Are you coach-able? If you
are, you are a winner. If you are not, you are a loser, regardless of what the
scoreboard says.
9. BE
A JOYOUS WARRIOR!
Be enthusiastic, positive, give 100%, and
understand that relentless effort in the pursuit of excellence is its own
reward. The joyous warrior exemplifies the slogan "No Retreat & No
Surrender." Win with humility, lose with dignity.
Source:
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