Introduction: Our Newest Blogger

The following is my first post of a Blog concerning Athletic Leadership and Values in the Ashburn Patch. While I’m new to Blogging, I’m not new to athletic journalism. As a writer I address serious issues that hopefully generate thought and action from the reader. I’ll warn you I am challenged with brevity!

The following is my first post of a Blog concerning Athletic Leadership and Values. While I’m new to Blogging, I’m not new to athletic journalism. As a writer I address serious issues that hopefully generate thought and action from the reader. I’ll warn you I am challenged with brevity!

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. In my 20 years of experience as a teaching professional, parents never request that I train their child to become a pro athlete. They do care that their child learns the broad values of leadership, competition and team play. Our sports society generates bold conversation about setting goals and teaching athletes leadership skills, but in reality delivers little.
Consequently young athletes choose TV sports star role models that they know
very little about. Leadership is often confused with proficient athletic skill,
popularity and fame; not personal character.

Lacking training themselves, coaches often imitate celebrity coaches they see TV, instead of continuing their own athletic education and developing 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. If we are to relate to young athletes in the information age we must leave behind the out dated leadership and communication concepts of the industrial age. I know this for a fact; if we fail to recognize the needs of today’s players, they will completely cut us off. They are much smarter than most people think and more worldly in a global sense. They have instant access to information and want to know why. Recently I was leading a group of Virginia high school students in an Ethics Day event. As I began a comment, referencing one of my articles, one student quickly Googled my own quotes and proceeded to read out loud to others to finish my thought!

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.

John@Pinkman.us and On Facebook - Pinkman Baseball