Life Lesson #29: Hustle

Hustle

Often times a term that is not taken seriously by young athletes, hustle is a word that means much more than moving quickly. There are certain intangibles created by an atmosphere of hustle. Practices become more efficient, athletes more respectful, and expectations more challenging.

TAKING THE FIELD
The easiest way to encourage hustle is to establish a specific way to take the field as a team. At the onset of each defensive inning, every player on the field is to sprint to their position. There is no walking or jogging, regardless of the distance of their sprint. The team is showing the opponent that they are ready and excited to play, confident and prepared. At the onset, this should be a team rule, enforced equally to every defensive player. And a rule that, if violated, results in the entire team returning to the dugout to take the field once again. Remember that any athlete that was on the bases when the inning ended does not have to return to the dugout. Instead, another defensive athlete can bring his teammate’s hat and glove out to that player.