Giving Athletes the Chance to Lead

At our previous event in Newnan, Georgia with Alternative Baseball athletes and local community leaders, an athlete was provided an opportunity to coach one of the two squads for the event. This opportunity, even for a day, carries the same responsibilities that a head coach carries in a traditional sports program. For the full managerial experience, one has to strategize through setting batting and positional line-ups and exercise patience, accountability, and encouragement whether the team is winning or losing. Part of transforming into a true leader is the willingness to navigate, adapt, and work through impromptu challenges and any ultimate ‘unknowns.’ All these are positive traits that can prepare athletes with disabilities for the workforce and other aspects of life off the baseball diamond; preparing them for true community integration.

Sam (pictured) has participated in the Alternative Baseball program since 2018 for local programs in Phenix City, Alabama, Columbus, Georgia, and now Auburn, Alabama. Sam was sent to Auburn from Columbus earlier last year to help the new program develop. Spending months practicing and playing under manager Evan Crawford (a former relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays) in Auburn, one could say that Sam was prepared to take on the challenge as athletes from the Auburn Pilots Alternative Baseball program took the field in Newnan for their first game. Sometimes, the rosters for these ‘Playing for Community Integration’ events are not finalized until minutes before with unexpected additions and no-shows from time to time. With the teams split in half with Alternative Baseball athletes from different towns and locals from the community, understanding everyone’s strengths in such little time before the event begins can be nearly impossible.

Regardless, Sam came to work and reflected on his experience, stating, “Despite knowing very few of the players on my team, having to adjust my line-up several times before having a final line-up, trying to get everyone into the game, needing to come back from two scoring deficits during the game, and the fact my team still only lost by one run after a strong scoring effort in the last inning says a lot about the positive attitude of ABO athletes that day.”

At our next event in Chattanooga, Tennessee on July 29th, another athlete will lead and manage one of the two squads for a day. Juston has been traveling to other Alternative Baseball games in Georgia since the pandemic’s subsiding while waiting for the program in Chattanooga to resume. As his abilities continue to grow on and off the baseball diamond, Juston has accepted the leadership challenge. “It means a lot to be able to put my leadership skills to the test! The fact that those within the Alternative Baseball program believe in me and trust me to do so feels great”, states Juston. The next Alternative Baseball ‘Playing for Community Integration’ event will take place at Boyd Buchanan School in Chattanooga, Tennessee on July 29th. The first pitch will take place at 11 am EST and be played for seven innings with traditional-style rules. It is free with donations encouraged to support Juston and all the Alternative Baseball athletes in the pursuit for community integration in life throughout and beyond sports.

(Photo courtesy of Sleeper Media)