More Than Just a Game

"You come to the diamond to learn baseball, you leave the diamond learning life."

Sports present an opportunity to grow in so many ways in your life. At the end of the day it won't matter how many games you won, how many awards you received; all that will matter is the impact you had on other people's lives. Participating in sports allows you to connect with people and learn how to build relationships that will last forever. Some of my best friends and biggest mentors came through me playing sports. In this article I want to talk about different ways in which sports have a positive impact on shaping lives. 

Teamwork

In just about every area of your life you need to work with others, whether it is in business, marriage, friendships, or sports. Sports teams give you the opportunity to learn how to work well with others in order to reach a common goal. No matter how good an individual is they cannot win or lose all by themselves. It takes a bond between a team to decide they are going to each do their job to help the team reach their goals. The teams that win are not always the most talented, but they know what their responsibilities are and are willing to do their part for the team. Doing this can be tough at times, but sports give you these chances over and over again. Mastering teamwork and selflessness goes far beyond sports and into every aspect of your life.

Discipline 

I learned at a very young age that without discipline it is very difficult to have lasting success. Baseball has taught me that in order to achieve a goal you have to be fully committed and dedicated. You can't just go through the motions and only work hard when you feel like it if you truly want to be successful. Discipline isn't just about choosing to do certain things, but also choosing not to do certain things. When you have set expectations for yourself to choose something great you have to say yes to putting in the work, but also say no to the things that are going to lead you astray. Having discipline in sports will set you up for success in your life when sports are done. You need discipline for your job, your marriage, and your relationships. 

Adversity 

Every player at some point faces adversity. Sooner or later you will be tested and will have to make the decision whether you will let a challenge bring you down or be a stepping stone for something great. I always admired the players that were at the bottom and chose to not give up and as a result achieved something great. It's easy to quit and give up when things aren't going the way you want or the way you expected. It takes heart and commitment to choose to keep pushing and fighting when everything inside you wants to stop. Every single one of us will face challenges in life that want to knock us down and keep us there. For some of us a family member will pass away, we might lose our job, we might have relationship problems; it is up to you how you will handle those situations. Sports have helped shape me and prepare me for moments like these. Adversity is an opportunity to make you a better person if you let it. 

In Conclusion 

These are just a few of the many reasons sports go far beyond just winning or losing a game. Sports present opportunities for growth like nothing else. Everyday you are on the field or court it is an opportunity to help you grow mentally and physically. The only question is, will you let it?

- Jared