Fear No One, Respect Everyone

Young in my baseball career, a coach once told me, respect every one and fear no one.  It sounds simple, and true, but I see this hurting teams on daily basis at the youth level.  If you take someone lightly in this game you will get beat or underperform.  Because you have beaten a team in the past, or a team lost to teams that you have beaten before, should not matter.  If you take someone lightly, or do not respect them, you are setting yourself up for disaster.  

Just as crippling, is fearing a team, or player, because of the name on the jersey or past accomplishments.  I was told by a great coach, "I don't care if the New York Yankees show up tomorrow, you look them in the eye, and go play your hearts out, the way you know how."

Stop worrying about the press clippings, enjoy the game, and play it the way it was meant to be played regardless of who is on the other side.  Play Hard and Have Fun!