Donny Dreher is the long-time head of the Michigan Finesse organization which has teams at every age level, from 18U down to 12U, and has produced talented players that have gone on to play at programs in the ACC, Big Ten and many other major conferences.

His teams have also played in major tournaments and nationals including the Boulder Independence Day Tournament, DeMarini Invitational, Diamond 9 Sun Classic, the PGF Nationals and the USA Softball JO Cup.

Many may not know that Dreher is also a talented writer and over the summer sent FloSoftball an article about being a club coach and what work that entails. Here’s that piece:

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I was out on my morning run earlier this spring and, as usual, many thoughts run through my head.

I had told people that this would be the most talented team I had ever had and how fun and easy this summer would be to coach. Then I stopped in my tracks and it occurred to me:

There is work to be done… real work!

You see, as a coach, it’s easy to motivate an average team to exceed their potential. The real challenge is to motivate a great team to play near or at its potential.

More often than not, a great team underachieves.

When I say there is work to be done, I am not talking about teaching them how to hit, catch and throw a softball—they do that pretty well.

I am talking about real work!

For example:

• Will I be able to teach them how to handle pressure? Not to avoid it, but put their arm around pressure and say to it: “Come with me, walk with me, I need you.”

Because without pressure the game is meaningless, the losses are empty, and the wins are as bland as club soda. I want them to know that pressure will make the game more memorable and make them a better player, if they allow it to.

• Will I get them to understand that failure is a good thing, and that failure is nothing more than positive feedback?

Can I encourage them to keep getting up every time failure knocks them down again and again?

Each time rising to their feet a little stronger until failure says: “ It’s not working on this one anymore, she is too strong, I need to find another timid soul that I can demoralize and send pouting back to her over-protective parents!”

• Will I inspire them to think of the team before themselves? Will they understand that it was previous Finesse teams that opened doors for them and it is now their turn to open doors for future Finesse players?

I want them to realize that being “part of something” is more powerful and rewarding than “being something.”

• Will they love their teammates and realize that their actions speak louder than their words? That a teammate’s respect is earned by their actions when adversity is present?

Would a teammate trust and choose them to share a foxhole in the middle of enemy territory knowing that their softball life is on the line?

• Will I be able to teach them to respect and appreciate their opponents? For it is in the battles with our fiercest opponents that great games are played and rivalries ensued.

And those battles, win or lose, will live fondly in their memories for a lifetime.

I want them to know that their toughest opponents are just like them—and to hate your toughest opponent would be to hate yourself.

• Will I be able to teach them to respect the game? Will they realize how lucky they are to play this game at such a high level?

Will they know that every lesson this game teaches them is the same lesson they will learn in the game of life? Do they realize that this game will allow them to travel to great places and meet lifelong friends?

And just as important, to never blame the game when they do not succeed, but rather look in the mirror to find the answers.

• Will they show their parents the respect and love their parents deserve? Will they have the maturity to look in their parent’s eyes and simply say “Thank You” because, without their parent’s incredible commitment and sacrifice, none of this would be possible?

• Will they understand what a coach’s “tough-love” is and why a caring coach uses it? Will they realize that I personally chose them to wear the uniform and that I believe in them and will never ever give up on them.

Because I was once young and immature and was fortunate to have a coach believe in me and it changed my life forever.

Thirty-five years later he is still my mentor and I will share his powerful message with my current and future players to the day I die, I owe that to him and I owe it to my players.

Yes, I have work to do… real work!