“Syd From The Sidelines”
How does one play a game for sixteen years of her life and then be expected to move on as it all comes to an end in one singular moment? Short answer: she doesn’t.
Now, the long answer takes a little more thought and a lot more words. So if you’re interested in that, stick around.
It’s been nearly five years since I picked up a ball and played a game of softball competitively. And while I am personally fully content with the way my career went and don’t look back on it in a negative light, why is it that I still find myself at the ball fields whenever I get a chance, or find my eyes glued to a TV screen every year when February comes around? Simply put, it’s a part of me. I’ve always been a big advocate for the person > player concept; a sport is what we do, not who we are mindset. But there is no denying when you play a sport for that long, that intensely, it doesn’t just leave you in that singular moment when you walk off the field for the last time.
Throughout my whole career, I was always told my biggest asset as a player was my “softball IQ” — my ability to understand the game on a deeper level. I had a decent bat, could stick it fairly well on defense, but the mental game is where I intended to set myself apart. Where the right play was, what the right pitch to call in that moment was; I took pride at being on top of it at any given moment in a game.
Over the last five years, I’ve tried to look for ways to give back to the game that truly gave me so much as a young girl. Wether it was the friends made along the way, the life lessons to help propel me into adulthood, the places I got to travel, or ultimately the college scholarship, softball shaped the way my life was going to pan out even if I didn’t realize it.
I’ve obviously always been a huge advocate for the sport, keeping up with the ever-evolving game from the youth to college level. I gave lessons for a while to kids in my local community, working my best to empower them as athletes and as humans. I truly love kids so having that opportunity to impact them was special. I also did some sports photography of my own, offering services to the kids and parents at local tournaments. I did whatever I could to stay involved some how, some way.
Which ultimately brings me to this blog. A space for me to write down my thoughts, experiences and advice. I’ve always been a big fan of writing down my perspective, in long form, not leaving out a single detail. Whether its youth, high school, or college softball related, personal experiences, a controversial topic, or just some inspiration, I hope to make this a safe place to discuss it.
So join me if you’d like. Leave your thoughts/perspectives/experiences in the comments. Get your girls involved.
Lets grow the game together.
Play hard. Play fast. Be where your feet are. Don’t take a minute for granted.
From the Sidelines,
Syd