There is a difference between a winning and losing Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, Little League or other youth baseball team and it involves more than the skill of the players. I am not saying that skill is not important for it is, but all of the skill in the world will not overcome a lack of team spirit and motivation.

Winning teams act as a team and support each other from the dugout and the field. With a winning team you hear the players vocally offering their support of the other players. By supporting each other the players of winning teams remain excited and have fun playing the game even when the scoreboard shows them behind. Losing teams stop their vocal support when the scoreboard shows them behind.

Winning teams are action teams. With every play you see movement as players back up other players. With a losing team you see players standing there as if lost or as if their mind is thinking about something other than the game.

The players on winning teams have a positive mental attitude that gives them the ability to keep their head in the game even when the scoreboard shows them trailing. This ability often results in the team turning the game around even in the last inning.

The players on winning teams are having fun even when the other team is ahead and this gives them the edge at pulling ahead in the next or later inning. Losing teams stop having fun when the other team has outscored them and they lose the motivation to pull ahead and instead fall further behind.

Winning teams know that the game is not over even after they have packed their bags for the experiences good or bad will make a difference in future games.

While not a coach or a player, game after game and year after year I attend the Cal Ripken – Babe Ruth baseball games of my grandson and the reasons discussed are the differences I see between winning and losing teams.