Author’s note: As part of this Lent, I’m committed to sharing good news. Periodically, I’ll be publishing columns about things that I’m grateful for or that positively impact us — in addition to my columns on important policy issues. I begin with coaching softball, my passion of 26 years and counting.

“Coach Guy, if we win, will you do a TikTok video with us?” 

“Can we make our bunt-sign a ‘dab?’” 

“Coach Guy, let’s race.”

“You know your hair doesn’t have to be grey; you can dye it.”

Little League softball has begun for my 26th season. Soon, there will be outdoor practices and games and, hopefully, the Little League (“LL”) tournament this summer. And for my 12th season of travel softball, the players, coaches and I are excited to move outdoors after months of winter practices — a great facility, but the ceilings are not “fly ball friendly.”

This is shared, not to impress anyone — some have coached longer, many have more coaching depth — but to provide context. And why I continue to coach, long after 2013 when our youngest stopped LL, and why I’ve been coaching without a daughter on my team since 2014.

I’m blessed that my two daughters have been coaching with me ever since then. They’ve managed to juggle high school, college, work and life. The players learn from and laugh with our youngest. And they look up to, learn from, and are comfortable bonding with our oldest — my fellow LL and travel coach. And I am also blessed with countless fellow coaches who’ve taught me so much about softball, coaching, and life.

From 2000 through 2011, I coached all three of our children, including baseball with our son. But I poured myself into softball almost from the beginning because…well — I know it may be hard to remember or believe — but in the early 2000s girls’ sports were still often an afterthought. Too few coaches, and gear that was “used,” at best. The girls needed coaches and mentors to reassure them that softball mattered, too — and that they mattered. And coaches who understood that softball isn’t actually “baseball for girls.” That was where I was needed most, that’s what I was called to do.

Whenever the topic of coaching softball comes up, very often someone says: “How do you deal with those parents?!” 

My daughters figure that I’ve coached over 500 girls and coached in approximately 1,100 games, from t-ball up through 18U. I am happy to report that I’ve had so few “incidents” with parents that I recall them all.  As far as the players, I’m sure that there were momentary issues, but I can’t recall anything that’s noteworthy and certainly nothing that lingered. This includes several years of coaching the daughter of a Division 1 softball coach, who was never anything but helpful and supportive. I assume there were times that parents or players disagreed with something I did or said. But it rarely came through when we were on the field.

Yes, there are things that will bring out the “South Philly” in me: Opposing parents should not heckle or mock my players. Umpires should not disrespect the girls. And there are times when I know a player is going through a tough time and the ump is giving her a workout. My former players would probably share stories about my conversations with umps, or parents sitting in the outfield. Some of my players would joke afterwards about my talks with opposing team parents heckling my outfielders: “Coach Guy, what would you do if he came over the fence: he’d kill you — you’d have to run.”

Depending how my daughters and I count, this is our sixth “class” of players. What’s great now is that former players will come back from college and help with the travel teams. The high school players come and help, too. Those sessions are great: it’s a win-win — above and beyond talking about sliding, bunting, or throwing a changeup.

Over the years, some players would ask to stay after practice to work on pitching or sliding. As players get older, there are the “talks” about whether it’s time to give up softball to focus on school, or chase their true passion in track, golf, or basketball or, whether it’s time to focus on playing college softball with more intense programs.

Over the years, there are the hand-written thank yous, signed balls, and even a jersey — I still have many of them. I remember 2000 and it taking nine games for a player to get her first hit. Or 2011 when our LL tournament district team lost the championship because the umpire called a nine-year-old player out for not returning to second base fast enough. In 2015, I remember the opposing team and umpire taking away a triple in a tournament game from an eleven-year-old because they said she missed second base. In 2019, that same LL class finally got to win districts — pins, hoodies, and a banner! In 2022, our LL 12U team made it to states, coming in third after a heartbreaking loss in extra innings.

During Covid, my fifth class sent me a very clever video having a make-pretend catch with one another from house to house during Covid — lifting my spirits for weeks. This fall, we began with a new team from our travel program—my 6th class. They’re ten and eleven, have no filters — and don’t get my dad jokes…yet.

We are lucky to have things that are positive in our lives, away from the tension and angst. There are good people in our lives, be they children or senior citizens. They lift us up, teach us, and help shape who we are.

It has been a blessing, something I’ve never regretted and would gladly do all over again. If you think I have a lot to say about school choice; well, if the subject turns to softball, get a comfortable seat.

Guy Ciarrocchi, a Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation, writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania and coaches softball for the Devon/Strafford-Berwyn/Paoli LL and T/E Thunder. Follow Guy, or send your suggestions, @PaSuburbsGuy.