Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Quarterly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security
Issue link: https://uscgreservist.epubxp.com/i/709956
It has been my long held belief that you can observe and learn many life lessons from the world of sports. I am not talking about the world of professional sports, though lessons abound there as well, but rather about the hundreds of thousands of amateur sports venues around the country from Pop Warner Football to Little League Baseball. One of these lessons occurred one summer when one of my sons was playing Little League ball. It was then, I think, that I first began to internalize the difference between being part of a team rather than just being on a team. The back story may sound familiar. League rules require that all kids play at least two innings per seven-inning game. Our team was pretty competitive and made a four team post- season playoff. During the season the coaching staff played by the rules, but played to win. The "better" players usually played the first 5 innings with the bench players getting plugged in to meet the league minimum playing time rule; generally at the end when the outcome was pretty much decided. We made it to the semi-finals. It was a very close game as it entered the final two innings. The other team had been changing players out earlier in the game, but we had not. With the game on the line, the coach went to the bench players so as not to be in violation of the rules. In the end we lost and the coach was terribly upset with the play of the substitutes. Muttering to us parents something to the effect of, "Did you see the way they played? Didn't they realize how important this was?" It was pretty clear to me he didn't get the concept of being part of a team versus just being on a team. Had he chosen to make those players an integral part of the team from the beginning perhaps, just perhaps, things would have gone differently. In this issue of the magazine you will read about the efforts – past and present – that the Coast Guard has made and continues to make to ensure Reserve personnel are not just on the team but a valued and contributing part of the team. Because in the end, all most folks want is what those Little Leaguers wanted: a chance to step up to the plate and make a solid contribution whenever and wherever they can. Leaders are responsible for ensuring they are ready. As always, thanks for reading. Anima est Bonus! Jeff Smith Rese R vist Magazine F R o M the edito R 2 RESERVIST � Issue 2 • 2016