Most of us fondly remember our Little League days, even if we grew up into spectators rather than pros. It’s really just the joy of playing the game and not taking yourself too seriously at the end of the day.

Little League is great because it teaches kids to work as a team and to accept both success and failure gracefully. But sometimes it can go even further, and end up truly inspiring the parents coaches who get to watch the game. Check out some of these Little League stories for a dose of inspiration today.

Cumberland American Coach’s Speech

If you haven’t seen this video of Cumberland American’s coach David Belisle consoling his team after a heartbreaking loss in the Little League World Series, then you should definitely take a few minutes to watch it. It’s a great speech aimed at teaching the kids that winning really isn’t everything. Instead, it’s the fight and the work that you put into the game. It’s a fantastic speech that will surely stay with his players for years, and maybe it will stick with you, as well.

They’re Just Kids

This story comes to us from Glendale, Wisconsin, and it’s something that a lot of parents, and even coaches, need to see from time to time. We’ve all experienced the parents who get out of hand when it comes to Little League games, and it seems that one baseball league in Glendale had enough. They put up signs on the fences to notify parents that:

1.These are KIDS.
2.This is a GAME.
3.Coaches are VOLUNTEERS.
4.Umpires are HUMAN.
5.Your child is NOT being scouted by the Brewers today.

All great reminders that in the end, it really is just a game, and the kids should be having fun.

Challenger Little League

Little League is popular with almost every kid growing up, but there are some who never get a chance to play, and that’s a shame. But the Freehold Area Challenger Little League program aims to change that. Challenger is a league developed for kids with special needs, such as autism or Down Syndrome. The game itself is scaled for each individual player’s skills, and it gives them an important place to interact, have fun, and build social skills.

Each player is paired with a “buddy”—a volunteer from a local high school who helps them through the game and cheers them on when they need it most. The bond is special for both the player and their buddy, and many volunteers from high school stay on for years afterward.

It’s a fantastic idea that helps make sure that everyone has a chance to play some ball while they’re growing up, regardless of any special needs.

We hope that these stories brought you a little inspiration today. If you’re looking for more great stories, tips about getting autographs, or sports discussions, then check out the rest of the BallQube blog today!