This spring, my son played his first season of baseball. As a parent, I was nervous, not just for him, but for myself. I’ve spent years as a business leader, supporting new team members as they step up for the first time, welcoming guests and clients, leading productive meetings, understanding financials, and having those “tough” conversations. But this was different. This was my kid. A new sport. A new team. A new coach.

Before I get on my soapbox about the high value of unpaid work, volunteering, let me say, not all coaches are the same. We’ve been blessed in other sports. Chris, Graham, and “another Dan,” you’ve all been wonderful. But I want to talk explicitly about Coach Dan Blackmore for a moment.

I didn’t know Dan from any other parent volunteer, but what he gave my family over 12 weeks might well have changed us.

A Moment That Mattered

Dan coached my son to throw his first strike, the moment captured in the video below. This wasn’t during a game, and it wasn’t even during regular practice. The season was over, and there was no expectation for Dan to spend any more time with the team, but he did. He wasn’t asked. Maybe it was for the love of the game, or perhaps it’s because “coach” isn’t a switch you turn on and off. It’s who you are.

That extra moment, just a coach, a kid, and a ball, meant everything. My son’s confidence soared. He felt seen, supported, and capable.

Through My Son’s Eyes

If you asked my son, he’d probably say, “Coach liked me most.” Not because Dan was always nice, but because he was consistent, kind and gave constant feedback. That kind of high-value attention filled my son up. He knew he mattered, and that made all the difference.

From Glove and Bat to Back Catcher

My son started the season with a glove, a bat, and a ton of desire. That’s it. And honestly, isn’t that what we want with any new team member? Hire for desire, train for skill. Over the weeks, he went from knowing just two things about baseball, hit and run, to understanding plays, covering his teammates, and cheering them on in the good and the bad. He even decided he wanted a bigger role, to be part of the game as a back catcher. Coach Dan encouraged this, supported it, and celebrated it.

The Business of Coaching (and Burgers)

On that last day, I learned something new about Coach Dan. I’d always seen him in his Bin 4 t-shirt, but I just thought he really liked burgers. Turns out, he’s a business owner. Suddenly, it all clicked. He coaches the way successful business owners lead, giving skills, offering feedback, and holding nothing back. He knows that when you are successful individually, then we are successful collectively.

As a leadership development professional, I’ve supported teams in many businesses. I see all kinds of leaders. There are managers who get the job done, task-focused and gold. There are visionaries, who innovate while they eat breakfast. And then there are coaches, the ones who hold a vision, develop future leaders, and give feedback over just praise. Coaches leave things better than they found it.

Coach Dan reminded me that the best leaders that do more than direct. They invest. They encourage. They celebrate growth, not just results. They know that when you are successful, we are successful.

Lessons for Leaders

Watching my son’s journey and Coach Dan’s approach reminded me of a few universal truths about leadership and coaching:

• Desire is the foundation. Skills can be taught, but passion and willingness are priceless.
• Celebrate growth, not just results. Every small win matters, especially for beginners.
• Invest in others, even when it’s inconvenient. The extra time, the encouragement, the belief, it all adds up.
• True leaders create more leaders. By empowering others, we build stronger teams, families, and communities.

Thank You, Coach

So here’s to the coaches, on the field, in the office, and everywhere in between. The ones who show up, who give their time, who see potential and nurture it. You might not always know the impact you have, but trust me, it matters.

Thank you, Coach Dan, for validating me and my son on what great leadership looks like.

Shout it from the bleachers!

If you’ve ever been coached, mentored, or supported by a volunteer, take a moment to thank them. If you have the chance to step up, do it. Our kids, our teams, and our communities need you.