Alone at the Plate
She pulls on the helmet, picks up the bat and walks to the
plate, "gotta hit and that's that".
The crowd starts to yell, the game's on the line, last inning,
two outs, the score's nine to nine.
Dad yells, "go get it," Mom wrings her hands, coach hollers,
"hit it" but alone there she stands.
Heroes are made in seconds such as this, but she's just a
little girl, what if she should miss? Years after this game's ended and she's little no more,
will she remember the outcome or even the score?
No she'll have forgotten if she was out, hit, or a run,
she'll only look back on her friends and the fun.
So cheer this girl on, alone with her fate;
help her remember with fondness, this stand at the plate.
Spend your time wisely and help in her quest to be a hitter with confidence and always her best.
And when the game's over, this girl can stand tall, for you helped her prepare to give it her all!
COACH'S CREED 1997

The Fastpitch Player
The Fastpitch Player, once upon a time, looked cute as a button dressed in pink, with pony tails.
She had tea parties with her stuffed animals and dolls, and she helped Mom bake cookies.
She has been, and always will be, Daddy's and Mommy's little girl.
The Fastpitch Player today still has the same little girl attributes.
The only difference is, she looks cute in her sliders and shorts.
If she's wearing ribbons in her hair, they are the team colors.
She has become Mommy's and Daddy's little pitcher.
The Fastpitch Player is proud of how dirty she can get.
On a normal family dinner outing, she takes up to an hour primping to get ready, and she still feels somewhat self-conscious.
However, between tournament games she'll strut into any restaurant with a streak of dirt across her face,
matted sweaty hair, dirt stained shirt, bloody knees and brown socks (that used to be white) in sandals with a toe sticking out, and yell, "Let's eat!!"
The Fastpitch Player typically has an extensive wardrobe.
She has several old uniforms which she has outgrown but has not discarded because,
well you never know.
She has several hundred tee shirts and boxer shorts from camps, leagues and tournaments from around the country.
When her parents say wear something nice, she wears something from a National event.
The Fastpitch Player needs to get a scholarship,
because her parents are broke from spending thousands of dollars paying for camps,
batting clinics, catching clinics, pitching clinics, hotel rooms, out to eat between tournament games, league fees, the new bat, the new glove, etc, etc, etc....
The Fastpitch Player is a fierce competitor.
She is willing to stand 40 feet away from a pitcher and take a pitch with a measured reaction time that even a major league ball player would struggle to hit.
She might be only 5' and 100 pounds (soaking wet)
but she'll dig in at 3rd or 1st, 25 feet away from the batter and challenge the hitter to try to drive one past her.
The Fastpitch Player has more spirit than any other sport.
She'll go home hoarse from cheering and rooting her team on into the final innings.
She plays the sport for all the right reasons, she loves the game.
She could spend the weekend watching TV or hanging out at the mall with her non-sport friends,
because her sport friends are all at a tournament somewhere.
But she chooses to spend her weekend in the 100 degree heat, waiting to get into the game.
The Fastpitch Player is diligent and hard-working.
She knows the value of hard work.
She understands that you get out of something what you put in.
She is competitive and doesn't give up easily. She learns teamwork and spirit.
Most of all she learns to respect all, but fear none.

Softball's Little Instruction Book
Never underestimate the other team.
Don't bother holding a grudge against an umpire; it isn't worth it. Umpires are people too, and they make errors just like you and me.
If you invite a substitute to fill a vacant spot, treat that person like a royal guest.
Never heckle a pitcher, especially if that person is new to the job.
Try to have fun, whether you're winning or losing. Otherwise, there's no point to playing.
Be respectful of the other team, even if they do not treat your team similarly. Your sportsmanship on the field will quickly get known throughout the league.
Don't let that loud-talking batter fool you. Sometimes, the loudest player is the worst, the quietest the best, and everybody else falls somewhere in between.
You're never too good or too important to sit on the bench every once in a while.
Always run to first base, even when you bat a flyball. An error might stretch your pop fly into a single or double.
If your team has a uniform, wear it.
Don't question your coach's or manager's judgment in front of the team. If you do have a suggestion for your coach, manager, or fellow player, do it privately.
If somebody makes an error, she already knows she made a mistake. Don't remind her.
If somebody makes a particularly bad error, don't make her relive it. She is already in enough embarrassment.
Don't measure your talent against players on your own team.
Never chastise another player when others can hear you.
If you're fortunate enough to play on a good team, treat it like a privilege.
Always respect your fellow players, even if they don't give you immediate reasons to do so.
Cheer for your pitcher, even when she throws poorly. Being on the mound is the toughest job on the field.
When you're catching a hit, especially a bouncing one, always try to get your body in front of it like a goalie. You may take a bounce off the chest, but you will stop the ball, and your teammates will respect you for it.
If you can show up early, offer to install the bases and assist the umps with setup. Even if it is not your home team's responsibility, your effort will be remembered by other ball players.
Before you borrow a teammate's expensive bat, ask first.
If you're winning big, don't rub it in. Being cocky will haunt you one day.
If you are the batter on deck, tell the runner coming home whether she needs to slide or not.
Unless you're looking a brawl, do NOT run into the baseman.
Basemen: remember to make room for the runner whenever the play is not to you.
The same person that let you down one game, may win it for you next time.
There is always a next time.
Always shake hands, thank the umpire, and clean up after yourself before you leave.
Most of all, leave the game on the field, where it belongs.