Play Ball! (06-11-07)

This one goes out to the volunteers. This Principal Perspective is dedicated to all the hard working men and women who are donating their summers to working with our kids, as coaches and sponsors and teachers and helpers.

This last Wednesday, I had the memorable experience of watching my son play baseball during a Kansas wind storm. Well, perhaps wind storm is a bit of an exaggeration, but the wind was bad enough that my wife and three other children remained in the safety of our home. The wind was fierce enough to stop play several times as both players and spectators had to duck for cover during 50 mile-an-hour gusts which picked up enough dust to reduce visibility to zero and even peppered us with the red clay that coats the field.

On the plus side, the other lesser wind gusts helped many routine hits reach the outfield and transformed routine plays into adventures, as evidenced by the 15-14 victory for the Hill City team.

However, the wind made me mindful of more than just baseball. It illustrated all too clearly the sacrifice of the volunteers who have agreed to work with our youngsters during the summer months. The two coaches ate dust right along with the kids, and they worked hard to keep the kids positive and focused. In the face of the Kansas weather, they weathered the storm like true professionals.

Except they aren’t professionals, they are volunteers. And my son’s brave coaches are just the beginning. Hill City has many baseball and softball teams, as well as summer league basketball, and various camps for all ages. And we can’t forget all the volunteers associated with the several Vacation Bible Schools.

School may be over, but the teaching of our youth is still going strong. There are still many adults who selflessly give of their time, often in difficult circumstances, to provide our kids with all sorts of educational opportunities.

Of course, they also provide our kids with a lot of opportunity for fun under the sun (or in the roaring wind!). So, the next time you see a coach, a sponsor, or some other volunteer, let them know how much you appreciate all that they do. Thanks to them, this summer promises to be filled with many memorable, and often educational, moments.

Play ball!