1. We Will Always Hustle

• We will always hustle on the field and we will always hustle off.

• Countless plays throughout the season will be determined by hustle or the lack thereof. Runs will be scored and games will be won or lost as a result.

• We will always give everything we have. We will be aggressive, but we won’t be careless.

• We will hustle to every ball hit in the field, and to every base we take.

• When the game is over, we want our opponents to always remember us because of the way we play — and a primary focus of this will be our hustle.

2. We Will Be Physically and Mentally Prepared

• We will work hard at home, in our yards, in our lessons.

• We will bring our best to practices and be prepared mentally. When we step on the field, we will be ready.

• We’ll be ready for that pitch. We’ll be ready for that play. We’ll be ready for that situation.

• We will play how we practice.

3. We Will Be Aware

• We will know the count.

• We will know the number of outs.

• We will know our role and the responsibilities we need to execute.

• With a focus on awareness, we will be one step ahead, prepared for anything that will come our way.

4. We Will Never Quit

• We will play every inning that is given to us. Any inning that is played without full effort is a wasted inning.

• As long as there is another out left, we will always have a chance, no matter what the deficit. We will not quit.

5. We Will Handle Winning with Class and Losing with Grace

• Baseball is an exciting game. Nothing in life can be compared to a big walk-off hit or final championship-clinching out.

• When we win, we will appreciate the fight our opponents gave us. We will shake their hands, look them in the eye and sincerely thank them for a good game. We will be passionate. We will celebrate. But we will not cross the line.

• We will also experience heartbreak. We will lose on a walk-off hit. We will hit that final out of a championship game. When that happens, it will be easy to drop our heads. But we will appreciate the fight our opponents gave us. We will let them celebrate. And we will handle the loss gracefully.

6. We Will Learn From Our Mistakes

• We are not perfect. Not our players, not our coaches and not our parents.

• We will make mistakes. We will make lots of mistakes. But the key is that we will learn from them.

• As a team and as individuals, we will not grow without failure. But it’s how we handle that failure that makes the difference.

• We will reset, reflect, and refocus on each mistake. Each will be an opportunity to grow.

7. We Will Play Within the Rules

• It is fun to win, but only if that win is something we can be proud of.

• We will play within the rules. We will know what is and isn’t allowed, and we will respect those rules.

• We will play ethically. Even when there is no rule in place, we will do what is right.

8. We Will Respect…Our Parents

• We recognize the hard work and sacrifices our parents make to allow us to play this game.

• We will thank them for their efforts.

• We will take responsibility for our equipment and uniforms. Making sure they are clean and ready to go. If help is needed, we will ask with polite words and voice tones.

Our Opponents, Their Coaches and Fans

• The other team is just like us. We welcome the competition they bring us and will treat them with respect.

• No matter their record or past performance, any team can win any given game.

• We will appreciate our opponents’ big hits and great plays. We will thank their coaches for the challenge.

• We understand that the other fans are passionate for their team just as our fans are passionate for us.

The Umpires

• The umpires dedicate countless hours to this game, with little appreciation. There is rarely a mention when they make a good call, but everyone is quick to pass blame when an apparent incorrect call is made.

• Being an umpire is not an easy job. Our players will not argue with calls. Our parents will not complain. And our coaches will discuss calls calmly.

One Another

• We are teammates. We are friends. And we are a baseball family.

• We recognize how difficult it is to go through a slump or make an error. We will support one another through the toughest of times because we will always succeed and fail as a team.

OurSELVES

• We — as individuals — will always keep our heads up. We will have high expectations of ourselves, but we will not expect perfection.

• We will not beat ourselves up or think negatively about ourselves.

The Game

• This is so much more than a game.

• We will respect baseball’s history and the players who came before us. We will appreciate that our fathers and grandfathers — and their fathers and grandfathers — played on some of these same fields, or one like them. Baseball bonds us all.

• We will play the game with the honor and passion it deserves.