You play to win. That means doing your best at all times. It doesn't mean you win every time you play.

In the sandlots and neighborhood games, winning was important but not in the top three.

 

1) Establishing dominance and stature.

2) Being the best individual player and everyone, wanting to pick you first.

3) Emulate a professional player, in mannerisms.

4) Winning the game.

 

SM is right, understand the aspect, fundamentals and techniques of the game, then everything will fall into place.

 

What about the comraderie and the feeling of working as a team?

You play to win. That means doing your best at all times. It doesn't mean you win every time you play.

 

Surely what we have here is just a difference in terms. The object of any game is to win, that should go without saying. I think some are arguing against the T-Ball mentality of everyone is a winner. No one likes that much so let's just leave that out of the discussion. I think the real question is : Is winning the most important reason, or for some, the only reason to play?

Yea, how to finish last!

 

What about the camaraderie and the feeling of working as a team?

In sandlot and neighborhood games, never thought about.

 

Most I knew, were concerned with scoring in basketball, hitting HR's in baseball and being the QB in football. As you move on, into organized youth programs, the team concept increases and does so, at each level.

 

The higher you advance, the more critical the team concept becomes.

Surely what we have here is just a difference in terms. The object of any game is to win, that should go without saying. I think some are arguing against the T-Ball mentality of everyone is a winner. No one likes that much so let's just leave that out of the discussion. I think the real question is : Is winning the most important reason, or for some, the only reason to play?

It shouldn't be the only reason. I think love of the game, love of a challenge, love of competition are also important. I think teaching our kids to want to compete and win is important. Otherwise we'll end up with mediocre adults all carrying participation trophies.

Otherwise we'll end up with mediocre adults all carrying participation trophies.

 

That's not what I'm discussing and, doggone it, I'm having a really hard time explaining it. :creepy:

 

Let's try this. If you were playing on an 0-5 football team, most of the team quit, the rest of the schedule is tough, you don't have any chance of staving off an 0-10 season.

 

Do you quit now?

I always played sports because I'm competitive and like a challenge. Naturally the challenge is to be better than my opponent and win. Just like playing games and working out, all of the other stuff that I do that many others don't, I do it bc it's a challenge and I feel that I can excel at it. I enjoy doing it, but if everything I did was just to take up time or something I'd be one bored fella.

That's not what I'm discussing and, doggone it, I'm having a really hard time explaining it. :creepy:

 

Let's try this. If you were playing on an 0-5 football team, most of the team quit, the rest of the schedule is tough, you don't have any chance of staving off an 0-10 season.

 

Do you quit now?

LORD NO! The real losers would already be off the team. I still play to win and go into the game believing it can happen. It's a little easier to believe in individual sports where you don't have to depend on 4, 8 or 10 other guys to earn that win. Nonetheless, I don't quit until the season is over.

That's not what I'm discussing and, doggone it, I'm having a really hard time explaining it. :creepy:

 

Let's try this. If you were playing on an 0-5 football team, most of the team quit, the rest of the schedule is tough, you don't have any chance of staving off an 0-10 season.

 

Do you quit now?

Never and those previous players who have quit, are not competitors and lack the understanding, of pride.

 

Life is tough and sports is no different. If we only play, when things are okay, team is good and all is well....Some will never learn, to reach deep down inside and find more, than they ever thought possible. It's better to achieve through adversity, than to never understand overcoming because of success.

I always played sports because I'm competitive and like a challenge. Naturally the challenge is to be better than my opponent and win.

 

:thumb:That's what I was getting at. Let me phase it this way, I play to try to win, not to win. Anyone understand that?

Never and those previous players who have quit, are not competitors and lack the understanding, of pride.

 

Life is tough and sports is no different. If we only play, when things are okay, team is good and all is well....Some will never learn, to reach deep down inside and find more, than they ever thought possible. It's better to achieve through adversity, than to never understand overcoming because of success.

 

:confused:But Maroonman says all I'm learning is how to finish last. If I can't win, why play?

:confused:But Maroonman says all I'm learning is how to finish last. If I can't win, why play?

I could write a novel on this stuff but the short version....

 

You play to succeed and never become content, with not overachieving. For example, you running a 100yd dash. You've always won, because the competition has never been equal. You find yourself in a race, with someone who is equal or better. At the 3/4 mark, is he leading. Do you....

 

(1) Concede and be content with 2nd.

(2) You reach deep inside, look for that burst you've never had to call on before and see what happens.

 

Which answer you choose, will reveal your motivation, character, competitiveness and desire to improve.

Surely what we have here is just a difference in terms. The object of any game is to win, that should go without saying. I think some are arguing against the T-Ball mentality of everyone is a winner. No one likes that much so let's just leave that out of the discussion. I think the real question is : Is winning the most important reason, or for some, the only reason to play?

 

The better question is; are we saying you can only win if you have the highest number on the scoreboard? If the answer to that is no, then I absolutely play to win every single time out regardless of age, activity or competition.

 

If the answer is yes, then I'd have to say that I do not play to 'win' every time out...

:confused:But Maroonman says all I'm learning is how to finish last. If I can't win, why play?