We Build Belief - By Carlos Rodriguez, La Joya HS Head Softball Coach

Dear La Joya High School softball student-athlete,

The challenge of exerting focused, effective effort towards a common goal is all in your state of belief. We want to share a couple of parables that we believe will impact your approach to any endeavor you choose to undertake. We believe taking heed to the message will serve you well, now and in life. Both of these parables have the same base, only a variation or twist that leaves the reader ample room for interpretation. We have condensed the stories making sure that the core lesson is in place.

Parable #1

A man stood ready to cross a 20-yard tightrope 100 feet off the ground with his wheelbarrow and no safety net. A teenage girl, like you, that was watching was asked by the tightrope artist if she believed he could do it. She responded confidently that he could. The artist asked if she was sure. She, again,excitingly reaffirmed her belief. He asked a third and final time, and again the girl continued to enthusiastically support him. The artist, now knowing she believed he could do it, asked the decision-making question: Will you get in the wheelbarrow? Without hesitation the girl replied that she would not get in the wheelbarrow. He now wanted to know that if she believed in him, as she had communicated several times, why would she not get in the wheelbarrow?

Our 2025 softball slogan that will drive us daily will be, “We Continue to Build Belief.” We want you to have a clear understanding of the expectations set forth. We want you to believe so strongly that you will take action, you will “push” or “get in” the wheelbarrow! Your beliefs will guide your actions. Will there be times when your actions don't align with your beliefs? Absolutely! It is at this time that you must garnish the courage to act upon your beliefs.

It reminds me of a fishing trip with the softball staff. We all are using the same lure/bait, but the one that believes he will catch will work the lure vigorously with the expectation of catching. His actions are tied into his belief. Every cast has the same belief/action irrelevant of the outcome of the previous cast. The staff member that casts and hopes he catches, without working the lure, is displaying his belief, or lack thereof, through his actions. He is letting his previous cast influence his current cast. We want you to act on your beliefs on every cast - - even when it is not easy!

Parable #2

The tightrope artist has been advertising for weeks that he will be crossing from skyscraper A to skyscraper B on a tightrope.The day of the event has arrived, and many spectators have come to witness the feat. Both rooftops have many curious people anxiously awaiting the dangerous display of commitment to a craft . To enhance the moment, the artist wants to know if they believe he can make it across; will he be able to take the wheelbarrow on the tightrope to skyscraper B? Some believe; many are indifferent even though no safety net was in place. The artist embarks on his dangerous journey and completes the feat, arriving confidently to a jubilant crowd. He now addresses the crowd that has witnessed his feat, with a decision-making question: Who will get in the wheelbarrow as I venture back to skyscraper A?

In keeping with our 2025 softball slogan, "We Continue to Build Belief,” the most evident action is the artist getting from building A to building B and reaffirming/challenging the crowd’s beliefs. He has organized, publicized, prepared, and accomplished a desired goal. His deep-rooted belief was so strong that he was willing to ”push” people across the buildings. His belief was the driving force behind his action. Our 2025 team will have players that want to ”push” the wheelbarrow in the right direction and players that will willingly jump in and help balance it. These players are action-driven. They believe teams are highly conditional and parameters are essential to the organization’s success. Belief is what drives their actions. Unfortunately, we all don’t have the same beliefs when it comes to accomplishing a common goal. We have categorized some of the beliefs/actions we feel exist.

Player A - She will “push” the wheelbarrow on the tightrope to the next building.

This individual will demonstrate consistent action that sets a standard of performance for others to follow. She expects others to get in the wheelbarrow.

Commitment level is extremely high. There is no safety net required for this player. She is willing to risk failure because when she fails, she regroups quickly because she understands the relationship between adversity and improvement. She makes people around her better.

Player B - She will get in the wheelbarrow to cross to the next building.

This individual will act on beliefs for the betterment of the team. Commitment level is high. She does not require a safety net because she feels connected to others in the wheelbarrow. When she falls her teammates are her support system. She makes people around her better.

Player C - She will build her own tightrope parallel to the one that exists to cross to the next building.This individual will seek the common goal but the actions are based on a personal agenda. Coach Pat Riley calls it “the disease of me.” Commitment level is inconsistent. A safety net is required because she will not lean on teammates during times of adversity. The only support system she allows comes from outside the organization. She does not make people around her better as she navigates on her own beliefs.

Player D - She will build a platform next to the tightrope to cross to the next building. This individual will create her own safety net by building a platform that is easy to walk on. She will not venture past her self-imposed limitations. Commitment level is adequate but she will not sacrifice personal activities for team development. She does not make people around her better.

Player E - She will walk across to the next building and take the elevator to the top, stopping on each floor to decide if she will continue. This individual will find the easy road. Commitment level is low and a safety net is not needed due to low level of risk. She will not make people around her better; also, she will try to influence others to join her in the calculated journey to the top.

Player F - She will not cross to the next building. She will observe from a distance and only interject with negativity. This individual will “beat” your team everyday. Commitment level is non-existent and is detrimental to team success as she will attempt to disrupt team unity. She does not require a safety net because when she intentionally falls, she will opt out. She will make the team better when she leaves.

Each player will speak of belief but only some take appropriate actions based on their motive to accomplish the common goal.

Which one are you?

Which one do you strive to be?

Remember, “We Continue to Build Belief” through our daily action based on our beliefs..

See you at the park!

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Sadly, Coach Carlos Rodriguez passed away in early February, 2025. A pioneer of RGV softball, 500+ career wins and the only softball coach La Joya High School has ever known. Thank you coach for sharing your insight and knowledge with our THSCA family!

Want to read the entire March 2025 issue of Texas Coach magazine? https://issuu.com/thscacoaches/docs/texas_coach_-_march_2025_-_volume_lxix_no._7?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ