The Magic Lies In The Little Things By Cassie Tysarczyk

The Magic Lies In The Little Things By Cassie Tysarczyk

Cassie Tysarczyk writes about the little things that can amount to great things in the future.

May 8, 2019 by Chez Sievers
The Magic Lies In The Little Things By Cassie Tysarczyk

Former Texas A&M Aggie softball player and former University of Houston softball coach, Cassie Tysarcyzk is one of the newest writers to join the FloSoftball team. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her writing that we're lucky enough to share. 


As softball players, fans, coaches, and media, we have the luxury of seeing our sport flourish. Now more than ever, the world of athletics has an eye on softball, from Lauren Chamberlain’s feature in ESPN’s body issue to conference series matchups selling at thrice the original ticket price on third-party websites. This is due largely in part to more media representation, and the big moments are of spectacle. 

A freshman getting the nod on opening day. 

A walk-off upset in extras.

The last team standing in June.

The NPF Draft selecting just 1% of Division I seniors to compete at the next level.

These moments are fleeting. Meaningful, but fleeting. Success is attained here, but it isn’t created here. 



What makes an athlete wildly successful? Varying aspects of athleticism can play a part: speed, strength, height, endurance, body control, explosiveness, agility, or reaction time. You name the quantitative characteristic; it’s part of the equation. However, it’s not all of the equation. Gifted athletes don’t always find success. Not every athlete with speed is a great slapper. Not every strong athlete is a great hitter. 

Too often, we make the mistake of fixating on the big things and the big characteristics -- when in reality, there is an infinite number of little things that lead to success. Ask any, and I mean any, elite athlete. Take mental notes. Take actual notes. 

In high school, Kobe Bryant woke up early to practice his shot.

Before each soccer match, Carli Lloyd visualizes scoring a goal.

As soon as he wakes up, Tom Brady drinks a glass of water. 

Successful athletes create standard operating procedures to set themselves up for success day in and day out. They find what works, and more importantly, what doesn’t work. They fine-tune their daily routine to build their path towards success through consistent habits. Developing a routine stands as a reliable constant when things don’t go well, and every little thing that is part of that routine is entirely controllable. If this is the focus, momentum is generated by staying consistent and committed to what is within reach.

Imagine an athlete taking off one single rep in the cages each practice. Those missed reps amount to 500 swings over a four-year career. By simply taking advantage of every rep, imagine what 500 swings can do for muscle memory. The little things are little when we glance at them individually. Combined, something much bigger is at hand.

The little things are not always mechanical. The details often lie in the way an athlete shows up and plays the game, upholds standards for their teammates, and maintains the culture of the program across their chest.

The little things can look very different for everyone. Every game day, I grabbed an iced coffee to go and hit the cages for some extra swings. I ate a Newk’s salad before report time. I envisioned hitting a screw or drop off the starting pitcher in my tee warm-up. I waved at Miss Joyce, a treasured Aggie fan and season ticket holder, in the stands before the national anthem.

Little things can be anything. Maybe it’s picking up a teammate after a rough at-bat. Maybe it’s thanking the bus driver stepping off for pregame. 

Maybe it’s a back-pocket mini Snickers just before BP.

Maybe it’s staying late for extra swings off the machine that was dealing during full team practice. 

Maybe it’s a tip of the helmet to the centerfielder after a lineout, knowing the next one is due for a double.

These little things, alone, will not result in success. What the little things can do is provide some trust through preparation, and confidence in ability. That confidence is easier said than done when a successful hitter is failing 7 out of 10 times. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, there is only room to go back to the little things and draw up the next outcome a bit differently. Committing to the process and detaching from the outcome is essential for a sport so deeply rooted in failure. 

Next time an athlete hits a walk-off or throws a no-hitter, reflect on what led up to that achievement. The greats are great because they are well equipped and prepared when facing the big moments. Nevertheless, the big moments are not where the magic happens. The magic lies in the little things.