Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1957-07-13
SoftbaII, A I DOL
In YMcA Program

those who play the game and those
who watch it; however, q more far
reaching purpose causes the YMCA
to include it in its program each
summer.
There is terrific interest in the
game on the part of boys of all
ages, and the YMCA attempts to
use this interest to achieve the
leeper goals of the Association.
These deeper goals include such
intangible qualities as moral, physi-
cal and social growth; wholesome
attitudes toward God, self, and fell
'owmen. With adequate leadership,
these values can be realized
through the use of games in which
The boys express their interest. Ger
tainly softball. falls into this cate
CORY.
However, contrary to a current
popular belief, the YMCA softball
program is not designed to dis
cover and develop softball talent
to any high degree; the YMCA
softball program is not concerned,
primarily, to develop winning
teams in terms of scores. These OBJ
jectives can best be fostered by
other organizations set up for those
specific purposes.
Rather, the YMCA idea is to pro-
vide the opportunity for the maxi
mum number of boys to participate
in the activity, to be taught as
many of the skills and techniques
! of the game as they can learn along
with teaching them that teamwork
is important, as is respect for lead
ership. Boys will discover for
themselves as they play whether or
not they will ever become great
in the game.
And what if boy discovers he
will not ever be great in softball?
Some other boy will then take his
place in the lineup, but no one will
ever be able to take away his re-
! spect and admiration for the leader
who patiently tried to show him
the proper way to hold the bat;
no one will be able to destroy the
wholesome attitudes he has de-
veloped with regard to the give
and-take" of the game, no one will
be able to take away the feeling
he has of respect for himself and
his conduct in the public; and the
chances are greatly increased that
all of his life, he will be able to
work and pray and play with others
in the true spirit of cooperation.
1t is highly important that adults
who have the privilege of serving
as leaders to boys group analyze
their own attitudes and evaluate
their detectives as they strive to
provide experiences of value for
their boys. A good question to ask
oneself, in this matter of softball
is, "Am l putting too high a value
on being the winner in the game 2"
For when the One Great Scorer
comes
To write against your name,
He writes, not that you won or
lost;
But HOW you played the game"
Certainly in these other types of
organizations we mentioned, and
particularly where games are
played on commercial basis, it is
| hardly to be expected that investors
would consider character develop
ment IF prime Importance. But on
the other hand, ball games as
business involve adults whose char
acters are already nodded.
The Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION we regard as being in its
essential genius a worldwide fell
lowship of men and boys united by
common loyalty to Jesus Christ
for the purpose of developing
Christian personality in a Chris
tian society.
Only as softball or any other ac-
tivity serves to achieve this stated
purpose of the YMCA, is it a valu-
able tool in the Association pro-
gram.