Expert: Thom Brooks - 4/6/2010

Question
I'm currently in the AF and deployed in Afghan. I'm 22 and I get out when I'm 24. I dropped outta college 2 semesters in a row and joined. But I wanna go back and play now....Who would take me....how should I go about getting back in the game?

Answer
David, hello!

The Dream only stops when you quit Dreaming, so keep it going!

First of all, thanks for every single good day and bad day that you wear our country's uniform.  You are already with the First String.  

I coach a men's baseball in Savannah.  We wear an American flag on one sleeve and a combat patch on the other.  We honor military units and generally wear the patch that matches our jersey number, like 8th Air Force,  3rd Army, 24th Infantry, Big Red One, F-22, etc.  We play our 3rd game of the season this week, but have a new player suiting up.  I drafted him sight unseen.  He is a 6 tool player.  The other 12 teams declined to draft him but I knew he was a Leader, a Gamer, and a Winner.  He just returned from a 12 month tour of duty in Afghanistan and will make those other teams cry when they see what they passed up.  Our Savannah Bombers also have a great player who played college ball at Air Force.  His wife is currently serving in Northern Afghanistan.  We have another new player who pulled two tours of duty with the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq.  Our team has won the league championship 4 of the last 5 years.  We are the classiest team and the team that others want to beat.  I like it.  

David, My point is............ the very essence that I coach by is recruiting men that are hungry for victory.  I look for dependability, skill, and all of the other winning team requirements.  But, more than anything, I look for the Character and Leadership of a Man.  I would be willing to bet that you will find a way to accomplish your objective.  You will not give up easily.  

You need to weigh the pros and cons, in WRITING.  You may be 24-25 when you get the chance to play for a college team.  So, you may be slower than the 19 year old lightning bolt.  If he is quicker, more experienced and smarter, than you will not get much playing time.  But, if you
Improvise, Adapt and Overcome, you will find a way to allow your World experience to give you the advantage.  Your Leadership is what will make the difference.

I've attached websites.  You need to learn the Rules of the Game.  Talk to current and former players that you're serving with.  Get their knowledge on plays, movements, exercises.  Determine which positions you play best.  Stay on a healthy, balanced diet and away from the performance enhancing garbage that ruins the body.  Make certain the coaching staff and scouts know that you are more than a team player.  Coaches know when they've got a Prima Donna or an Unselfish player on the field.  Your age can calm down the Lads that are younger during a challenge.

You may look into playing at the Division III or Division II level, where the standards are not as demanding.  The bigger schools get to pick the blue chip prospects.  If you're a great player, then you can play at any level.  It also depends on how well you know the history of the team, the offense and defense scheme, their needs, their injuries, their strengths and weaknesses.  If you are a Walk On, trying out for the job that 12 others want, you may limit your chance of making the team.  So, do your homework and study that school. Let them know if you are flexible.
If you're just a darn good athlete, they will find a place for you to help the team.


Use every resource you have.  Contact the schools of your choice.  Start writing the TV, radio, newspaper sports editors of your home town and the city where you want to play.  The military has thousands of people that will be thrilled to get you started on the success track.  

Do good.  Let me know which team you play for.  

God Bless you.  
God Bless the Military.  
God Bless the USA!



Take Care,

Thom Brooks
www.BrooksInsuranceSchool.com
Savannah Adult Baseball League

I am on Facebook if you want to follow our team.



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