From Dugouts to Boardrooms: A Leadership Lesson from Little League

When’s the last time you watched a local youth baseball or softball game?

If it’s been a while, do yourself a favor. Carve out an hour this summer. You’ll see young athletes in the making, enjoy reasonably priced concessions—and if you’re paying close attention—you might stumble across a leadership lesson or two.

Catchers or Chasers

This is my 8-year-old grandson’s first year of “organized” baseball. Oh, yeah, Duke played “T-ball” as a 4 and 5-year-old. But t-ball games primarily consist of coaches leading players to the batter’s box, then encouraging generally disinterested batters to swing at a ball placed on a stationary stand. If contact with the ball is made (never a certainty), startled batters are loudly encouraged to run (hopefully, in the right direction) and to “run around” the little boy lying in the base path ,making dirt angels. 

This year Duke’s league is more advanced. He and his teammates, now 6 to 8-year-olds, have generally learned the fundamental rules of the game. However, the reflexes and hand-to-eye coordination necessary to hit and catch a ball consistently are still a work in progress.

In all fairness, people far smarter than I have postulated that, besides boxing, hitting a pitched ball may be one of the more difficult activities in all of sport. The difficulty of boxing should be obvious. However, how can you think of repeatedly punching—or being punched—in the face as sport? But, yes, hitting a pitched ball is certainly challenging, especially for beginners. But pitching and catching a ball is no simple task either. 

The other night, I was at Duke’s game. I looked up and saw Duke behind home plate wearing catcher’s gear. He looked like a catcher. But over the next hour or so, the term “catcher” proved to be a misnomer. He should have been called the “chaser,” since he chased down far more balls than he actually caught. 

I enjoyed the spectacle. That is, until my mind drifted back to a memorable summer night from the 1960s. It was an occasion from my own youth league baseball experience.

THE LEADERSHIP LESSON

I was ten years old, catching in a youth league game under the lights of a warm summer evening. The stands were packed with parents and fans. I was focused, excited, and confident. 

“PLAY BALL!” the umpire shouted.

It would’ve been more accurate if he’d yelled, “LET THE PAIN BEGIN!”

I crouched behind home plate, ready for the first pitch from our starting pitcher. He wound up and let it rip—three feet over my head. I never even got a glove on it.

“Ball,” the umpire said simply. I scrambled to the backstop, retrieved it, and lobbed it back.

For the next three innings, the umpire repeated the word “ball” to the point of monotony. Batter after batter stepped to the plate, waited, then watched as pitches sailed high, wide, or fell woefully short. Almost every pitch ended up at or near the same destination—the backstop. I ended up “chasing” more than I was “catching.” It was frustrating.  

Finally, after one too many errant pitches and the resulting trip to the backstop, my youthful anger boiled over. I picked up the ball and, in an act of exasperation, hurled it back at my teammate. He was ready and caught my return throw chest high, at his uniform letters. A perfect strike.  

“TIME, Ump!”

I looked up and saw Coach Joby heading toward the mound. Finally, I thought, a pitching change. I welcomed it. Anything would be better than this.

As he walked, Coach motioned for me to join him. I trotted out to them.

“Phil, take off your catcher’s gear,” he said calmly.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because you’re gonna pitch.”

Sudden fear seized me. I thought my heart stopped, but then I felt it racing uncontrollably. Breathing was difficult. I was panicked! I had never before pitched. NEVER! Not even in practice. I attempted to remind Coach of this fact.

“Coach, I’ve never pitched before.”

“You won’t be able to say that in a few minutes.”

And with that, the die was cast.

Now my teammate was living my previous catching experience, only worse. Hardly any of my pitches found the strike zone. The majority found the backstop, with a few finding the rib cages of terrified batters. That night, the batter’s box was a danger zone.

A couple of innings later, mercifully, the game ended in a lopsided loss. I was demoralized. I couldn’t look at anyone. All I wanted was to be somewhere else. I pulled my hat down low over my eyes, grabbed my mitt and headed for the exit. 

But just then, Coach Joby called me back. Alone with Coach in the dugout, he asked:

In the quiet of the dugout, he looked me in the eye.

“Phil, how did you feel?”

“Terrible,” I admitted.

“Were you trying your best?”

“Yes… but I couldn’t do it.”

He nodded. “You know what? Your teammate was trying his best, too. He couldn’t do it either. But you made him look bad in front of all those people. He’s your teammate. How do you think that made him feel?”

The truth hit me hard. I hadn’t thought about how he felt. I was too busy feeling sorry for myself.

Coach Joby didn’t yell. He didn’t scold. He just reminded me of a leadership lesson I’ve never forgotten:

“Baseball is a team game. Everybody has a part to play. In baseball—and in life—the best players are the ones who care about their teammates.”

The best leaders never stop learning.
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Extra Innings

That leadership lesson has stayed with me, and not just on the field.

These days, I find myself reflecting on it often in leadership circles. Because in business, like in baseball, this leadership lesson still applies:

  • Great leaders don’t look good by making others look bad. Publicly shaming someone—whether in a meeting or a dugout—says more about your character than theirs.
  • Not everyone has the same skill or experience level. Respect the effort, even when the outcome isn’t ideal.
  • Before you criticize, ask yourself: Could I do better in their shoes? Empathy is a leadership skill, not a weakness.
  • The worst leaders hoard credit and deflect blame. The best do the opposite—and their teams know it.

That night, I thought I’d failed as a catcher and a pitcher. But thanks to Coach Joby, I learned something far more valuable:

Leadership is never about outperforming your teammates—it’s about uplifting them.

Gratefully,
Phil

Leading with Evaluation or Encouragement?

What about you?

Is there someone on your team today who needs your encouragement more than your evaluation?

Before you deliver another piece of feedback, consider this: evaluation shapes performance, but encouragement shapes people.

Here are a few ways to lead with encouragement today:

  • Catch them doing something right.
    Instead of waiting for the mistake, call out the progress, the effort, or the follow-through you might normally overlook.
  • Ask questions that build, not break.
    Try: “What’s working for you right now?” or “Where can I support you?” rather than “Why didn’t you…?”
  • Be specific with praise.
    “Great job” is nice, but “I saw how you handled that tough customer, and I was impressed by your patience” goes further.

Evaluation has its place—but encouragement? That’s how you build trust, loyalty, and lasting influence.

Which one will define your leadership today?

——-

Struggling to Develop Leaders at Every Level? There’s a Smarter Way. Explore Van Hooser Leadership Online

Phillip Van Hooser

Phillip Van Hooser, CSP, CPAE, Founder & Chair, Van Hooser Leadership. A seasoned leadership expert, keynote speaker, and author, Phillip Van Hooser is passionate about developing intentional leaders who can effectively engage and empower their employees to deliver powerful results. His most recent book is “Earning The Right To Be Heard," a primer for creating greater influence and opportunities. Connect with Phil on LinkedIn.

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