Week Three

Topic: Teamwork - Roles

Activity:

    • Have all players take their gloves to and play infield between 1st and 2nd base (create a wall of defenders).

    • Hit a few balls towards them - enough to get them confident.

    • But now, show the players why they can't all be 1st and 2nd basemen... hit a ground ball towards the shortstop position, and watch it go into the outfield.

    • Explain how this demonstrates that a team of all 1st and 2nd basemen would not make a very good team. You need a shortstop, 3rd baseman, pitchers, catchers and outfielders. Each player has their own job on the field, but the whole team relies on each person to do their job.

Conversation Starters:

  • Q: Think about a goalie in soccer or hockey. What is their role? What are they supposed to do? What should they NOT do?

    • A: The goalie's job is to be the last person to stop the other team from scoring. They should NOT run to play offense, because that would leave their goal undefended. The goalie will almost never score... because that's not their job.

  • Q: Why do you think Mike Trout plays in the outfield? Is it because he's not good enough to be a shortstop?

    • A: Of course not! He plays in the outfield because he's an incredible outfielder, and that's where he can help his team the most.

  • Q: Can someone think of another person as an example, that is NOT an athlete? What kind of team are they on? What is their role to help the team?

    • A: Answers may vary. Ex: Garbage man is on the city's "team." They remove all the trash so the whole city does not get littered with trash. They could build things, like construction workers who build new buildings, but then who would collect the trash?

Key Points:

  • Players each have their own strengths and weaknesses

  • Teams fill in for their teammates weaknesses with their own strengths

  • The best teams are complete, good at every position because of their own unique skills

“The Ride Home”

  • I loved watching you play.

  • Help your player to define their role in their family (team), and explain why their role is important.

  • What are some things that you do that are valuable to the team? (Feed pets, take out trash, etc)

  • What are some things that parents do that are valuable to the team? (Work a job to pay bills, do laundry, cook, etc.)