A Play You Must Make

While I’m new to blogging, I’m not new to athletic journalism or Reston. As a writer, I address serious issues that hopefully generate thought and action from the reader.

I am not a fan, I am a teacher. I care more about students ability to succeed than win, there is a life’s worth of difference. As parents and coaches we need to focus more on athletic values than box scores. As a teaching professional parents never request that I make their child a pro athlete; they do care that the child learns the broad values of leadership, competition and team play. As a sport society we talk about goals and devote conversation directed at teaching athletes leadership skills, but deliver little. Consequently young athletes choose TV sports star role models that they know very little about. Leadership is often confused with athletic skill not personal character.

As coaches we imitate celebrity coaches we see on TV too; instead of continuing our own athletic education and leadership skill. Becoming a volunteer or part time coach does not abdicate responsibility for personal growth. Learning how to teach is just as important as what to teach.

In my 35 years in Reston I have grown up with my kids. I don’t have all the answers; I do have quite a few questions. I am addicted to continued education. So please join me, I will try very hard not to waste your time. In the end, the reader is the final judge.

A Must-Make Play 

No, not a do-or-die, throw from third, not a knock down of shot at the goal, not a touchdown with seconds remaining. It a real play. It called Rounding Third, an amazing comedy about parents and coaches, the conflicting roles and are perceptions of how to succeed.

The play is performed at The Vienna Theater Company at the Vienna Community Center and will be of value to parents whose children play any sport.

 Rounding Third is an opportunity to learn more about the concepts of athletic leadership and parenting in youth sports. 

Directly following the Oct. 30 2 p.m. performance only, the audience will have the chance to participate in a discussion of the important message and social value of the play. Bob Schulte, LSW, will be the featured panelist.   The Talk Back is sponsored by the Beatty Companies.

There is no more controversial issue in sports than the relationship between coaches, players, and their parents. You cannot watch this play without seeing yourself or a coach that you know. You cannot watch this play without remembering involvement in a situation that you wished you hadn’t.

Rounding Third is the journey of two Little League coaches through an entire season. Don is the tough blue-collar ‘win at all costs’ veteran coach whose son is the star pitcher. Michael is new, both to the town and to baseball. Despite their differences Michael and Don form an easy alliance for the benefit of the team. Michael believes that the job of the coach is to shield the kids from the intense pressure of competition while making sure everyone has a good time. Don thinks they should be teaching the kids how to win. Out of these conflicting philosophies, deeper issues of the play emerge: how should we raise our children? And what does it mean to be an American man?”

There are a limited number of seats available for the Talk Back performance.  Tickets ($13) are available for purchase by mail or pick up at Pinkman Baseball Academy 703- 661-8586. Tickets also are available at the Vienna Community Center.

Other performance of the show will be 8 p.m. on Oct. 21, 22, 28, 29, Nov 5; and 2 p.m.  Nov. 6. All performances are at Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., Vienna, VA 22180

Next Weeks Blog — Should College Athletes Be Paid?