In 1996, retired coach John Scolinos, was asked to give a speech to around 4,000 baseball coaches from Little League to the Majors. He was 78 years old, so he slowly walked up to the podium and around his neck was hanging a home plate. He didn’t say anything about it and went on to speak for around 25 minutes.
Then he finally mentioned it. He said I’m sure most of you are wondering why I have this plate around my neck. He asked the crowd how wide the plate was in Little League and some of the crowd yelled out: “Seventeen inches.” Then he asked how wide the plate was in high school and college. Again, they yelled out: “Seventeen inches.” He then asked how wide the plate was in the majors and they called out: “Seventeen inches.” Coach Scolinos asked them what happens to a major league pitcher who can’t get the ball across that 17 inches? He’s cut from the team was their response. He said they were right. They don’t tell the pitcher that they’ll increase the size of the plate so he could throw a strike and keep his job. No, they hold him accountable for results based on the rules of the game.
He then went on to say that our country is widening the plate in basically every important aspect of young people’s lives. The plate of integrity has been widened. The plate of common decency has been widened. The plate of morals has been widened. The plate of good sportsmanship has been widened. Instead of holding young people accountable for hitting the strike zone of 17 inches, the plate is widened daily so they can feel good about themselves and the choices they make in life. Ethical standards 20 years ago have been watered down. It’s no longer shame on me for taking advantage of you, it’s shame on you for getting played.
What are the ethical standards in your home? What are the rules in your home? Do you require your children to hit the strike zone or do you increase it? Do you hold them accountable or let them slide? How wide is your home plate? Morals are morals, age shouldn’t matter. They shouldn’t change over time. The plate is 17 inches, no more, no less. Don’t change the size of the plate.
Then he finally mentioned it. He said I’m sure most of you are wondering why I have this plate around my neck. He asked the crowd how wide the plate was in Little League and some of the crowd yelled out: “Seventeen inches.” Then he asked how wide the plate was in high school and college. Again, they yelled out: “Seventeen inches.” He then asked how wide the plate was in the majors and they called out: “Seventeen inches.” Coach Scolinos asked them what happens to a major league pitcher who can’t get the ball across that 17 inches? He’s cut from the team was their response. He said they were right. They don’t tell the pitcher that they’ll increase the size of the plate so he could throw a strike and keep his job. No, they hold him accountable for results based on the rules of the game.
He then went on to say that our country is widening the plate in basically every important aspect of young people’s lives. The plate of integrity has been widened. The plate of common decency has been widened. The plate of morals has been widened. The plate of good sportsmanship has been widened. Instead of holding young people accountable for hitting the strike zone of 17 inches, the plate is widened daily so they can feel good about themselves and the choices they make in life. Ethical standards 20 years ago have been watered down. It’s no longer shame on me for taking advantage of you, it’s shame on you for getting played.
What are the ethical standards in your home? What are the rules in your home? Do you require your children to hit the strike zone or do you increase it? Do you hold them accountable or let them slide? How wide is your home plate? Morals are morals, age shouldn’t matter. They shouldn’t change over time. The plate is 17 inches, no more, no less. Don’t change the size of the plate.
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