I love coaching college softball!

Now that my career as a softball coach is in full swing (pun intended) I have to admit I was a bit more excited than usual on Friday (see my previous blog post http://tinyurl.com/zt95wvp if you don't understand). It was our home opener!

For the past few weeks I've been working with a couple of softball players on their performance. From what I understand they are very talented players. That's hard for me to judge because I don't know anything about softball. What I know for sure is they are amazing people! I can't take any credit for either of those things. But working with them has quickly become one of the most rewarding coaching experiences of my life.

This past weekend after watching them play I started to wonder why I was enjoying this experience so much. From the outside looking in one might think I don't have anything to gain. They don't play on the women's soccer team. That four-game sweep didn't improve my career winning %. I certainly don't gain financially. So what's making it so enjoyable?

To use a line from the TV Show Friday night lights when I work with these softball players I have "clear eyes." My brain isn't cluttered with the usual things that hamper us as coaches. Simply put there isn't any baggage. I don't judge. I'm open and understanding.

When I started working with them I had no idea the impact this would have on the coaching of my own players. I now try to enter every meeting with "clear eyes" just like I do with those softball players. I do my best not to judge and just listen. I strive to be open and understanding.

Unfortunately for the longest time my own thinking was getting in the way of this mindset. It took two softball players to really help me learn how not to judge.