Timeout on the Mound

Imagine this:  You're coaching a leading team. It's near the end of the season and your team has worked so hard to make it this far. It's a tie ballgame and it's the last inning. Runners are on base waiting to steal.....and your pitcher is starting to struggle. Ball 1. Ball 2. Ball 3. Your team starts to look at you. The fans start glancing your way and you can hear the silently say, "Do something now, Coach."

My husband was in this position while coaching a 14U baseball team. Admittedly, I was one of those parents looking at him wondering if he was going to do something about this pending loss. What do you do if you're the leader of a team and things start going south? How do you bring your team members back into the game? How do you inspire them or change their current mindset before things really end badly?

That's when my husband called 'time' and walked towards the mound....a typical response to this type of moment. The pitcher's head was down. For the purpose of the article, we'll call the pitcher Brandon. Brandon knew he was throwing poorly and felt as though he was letting his whole team down. Nervously, he kept glancing up to see his coach approach the mound and thought he was going to be pulled and replaced with another pitcher. Brandon knew he was going to get 'a real talking to.' Every person in and around that field was watching. My husband got to the mound, looked at Brandon for a moment.........and then said this:

"I'm hungry for pizza."

     Huh? Brandon just looked at him with a blank stare.

"Are you hungry?"

     Brandon's eyes squinted and were questioning the conversation.

"I'd say after this game you go get some pizza with your family. That sounds nice."

Brandon replied, "Um, Coach, are you really talking to me about food right now?"

My husband said, "Yes I am. Because all I can think about is finishing this game and getting to eat."

Brandon said, "Coach, I mean I am hungry and I like pizza, but I don't understand this pep talk."

My husband answered, "Look...there's nothing I can say to you right now to help you pitch. You're our best pitcher. You know what you're doing. But what I can say to you is that you're thinking too much and all I need you to do is throw some strikes so we can win this ballgame and go get pizza."

......."Uh, Ok, Coach."

My husband returned to the dugout and was stopped by Brandon's dad. "What did you say to my son, Coach, because he's out there really struggling." My husband replied, "I just asked him if he wanted some pizza." Brandon's dad said, "That's it?!" .........yep.

The ump signaled Brandon to continue the game. Brandon looked at his teammates and threw out a first pitch. Strike 1. Strike 2. Strike 3. Strike 1. Strike 2. Strike 3.

As a leader, don't be afraid to get creative. Sometimes, you need to break the norm to get results. Connect with your team differently. When things start falling apart, break their negative thinking and inspire a positive attitude. Take their mind away from thinking 'I'm terrible and can't do this right.'

After the game, Brandon's dad asked if my husband really did ask his son about pizza. "Amazing," he said, and actually offered up some other food ideas for the future. Brandon admitted that his timeout talk was one of the most mind-changing and influential moments he has ever had in any sport.

Did they win baseball game that day? Dang straight.