Kevin Shelton is a busy man—he is the President of the Dallas Charge of the National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) league and also runs the Texas Glory club organization. He and his coaches were honored in December by the NFCA as the National Club Coaching Staff of the Year. Kevin was also in the Navy for over eight years–working on a submarine no less! – and shares his thoughts about Memorial Day here…

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For many of us, Memorial Day is a day off from school or work or an opportunity to practice some softball.

For me, it’s a day like every other: a day for giving thanks and a day to count our blessings. Specifically, Memorial Day reminds us to say thanks to those men, women and their families who have given so much to secure those blessings.

Given the current events around the world, it is mind blowing to think about how great our society is and how great it can be. Americans are so lucky: being born in the U.S. is very much like winning the lottery. This is worth reflecting on.

Here in the U.S., we can easily take for granted the abundant freedoms that our republic provides.   Days like today afford us a chance to remember that freedom is not free and the right to pursue happiness must be earned through selfless leadership and diligent effort each and every day.

It is also important to internalize the idea that with the freedom we enjoy comes great responsibility. We owe those who earned this freedom for us with their blood and sacrifice. We owe those that built this great land and overcame a mountain of unimaginable obstacles.

We pay this debt by understanding, embracing and teaching those time-tested ideals.

I was raised in a household where military service was held in high esteem. Leadership, teamwork, integrity and tenacity were staples of our training in all things.

My four years in the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets and the eight years, one month and 14 days I spent in the U.S. Naval Submarine service served to increase my understanding and dedication to those important tenets. My life beyond the military has reaffirmed those ideas again and again.

My training, experience and support of a loving family have afforded me the chance to explore many post-Navy opportunities. Most rewarding among these has been the privilege to coach travel fastpitch for the last 18 years. In that time it has been a pleasure to be a part of so many outstanding young people’s lives. I hope that they have taken from the experience as much as I have.

Our game is so great. It’s fun, fast, smart, tough and exciting. Fastpitch, like most organized sports, gives us a platform to help reinforce some of those critical factors that can help us be successful in life and become productive citizens which, for me, is the primary reason I’m still involved.

The competitive environment on the field mimics that of life. It feels many times like the athletes we begin to work with at a young age are sometimes unaware or unconcerned about that reality. Working along with their parents to help them see that life is a team game is challenging, fun and necessary.

Establishing the right culture is key. And that starts with leadership. Growing leaders is a primary focus. Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes, but in the end it usually takes the form of understanding two critical factors: Take care of the mission, take care of the “men.”

Our emphasis is on being our best in each moment and earning the right to win through solid work before we step on the playing field. Next, we need cohesive teamwork and chemistry. To achieve those important keys to success, we need people who are willing to be good teammates.

My experience has shown that selflessness, leadership and humility go hand-in-hand with being a good teammate. Great things are possible when each athlete works on perfecting her skills to make the team the best it can be.  This is when the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

Today, Memorial Day, we honor those who understand and actively employ these ideals in securing our freedom. Let’s take a few minutes today to reflect on how we can continue to honor them throughout the year by demonstrating a commitment to a team approach that has selfless leadership, discipline, humility and integrity as its hallmarks.

Salute those who have given us this freedom to be our best by dedicating ourselves to leaving our little piece of the world better than we found it.

— Kevin Shelton