Adventures with Ari: Finding Her Game — Episode 1

What happens when a kid’s excitement for the game starts to disappear?

They showed up ready to play. They were proud of their effort. Then somewhere between practices, mistakes, and watching other kids get their opportunities, that excitement turned into doubt.

As a dad and a coach, that’s the part that sticks with me.

We created Adventures with Ari for the kids who are still figuring it out—and the parents trying to help them find their way.

Ari is inspired by my seven-year-old daughter. The story is fictional, but the feelings behind it will be familiar to a lot of sports families.

In our first episode, Finding Her Game, Ari shows up to softball evaluations with a big smile and plenty to learn. She isn’t the strongest thrower or the fastest runner. She doesn’t know what the coaches are looking for. She just knows she wants to play.

What happens next is why I wanted to tell this story.

Read Ari’s first adventure below.

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  Meet Ari. A new player with a big smile and a lot to learn. Her adventure starts here.

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  Everyone has a first day. The throws, the swings, the footwork—Ari is figuring it all out.

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  “I did my best!” Ari leaves excited to play. To her, this is just the beginning.

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  Last on the list. The coaches see a beginner. Ari sees a chance to play.

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  Waiting for her chance. It gets harder to stay excited when you feel left out.

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  Some feelings are hard to explain. Her parents can see that something has changed.

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  Looking for a little help. Ari’s parents find a place where she can learn, practice, and feel welcom

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  “Come join us!” A warm welcome makes that first step into class a little easier.

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  Someone takes the time. With instruction and encouragement, Ari starts to find her smile again.

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  “Can we come back?” For her parents, those words mean everything.

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  Showing up and putting in the work. One practice at a time, Ari starts doing things she couldn’t do

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  Her first HitTrax home run! A big moment built on lots of little improvements.

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  A new season. A familiar field. Ari is ready to show what she’s been working on.

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  Ready for the next ground ball. The practice starts showing up in her glove and her throws.

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  Look at her go! Ari runs hard, swings confidently, and gives it everything she has.

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  “Did you see that?” Of course they did. Her parents have been cheering for her all along.

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  “What have you been doing?” The answer comes with a smile: “We’ve been training at The Refinery.”

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  Now Ari gets to welcome someone new. Every player starts somewhere. DM “TRAIN” to find a class or le

Every player starts somewhere

My favorite moment in this story is when Ari asks to come back.

The home run is fun. Seeing her improvement at the next evaluation is exciting. But wanting to return means she’s found a place where she feels comfortable trying, making mistakes, and learning.

That matters.

We ask kids to be confident, but confidence takes something to build on. Sometimes it starts with a coach explaining a drill in a way that finally makes sense. Sometimes it’s a teammate welcoming them into the group. Sometimes it’s making a throw they couldn’t make last week.

Those little moments give kids a reason to keep working.

At The Refinery, we work on hitting, fielding, throwing, and movement. We also pay attention to the kid who walks in quietly, hangs back during a drill, or needs a little encouragement before trying again.

Your child can come in with questions. They can come in nervous. They can come in brand new.

We’ll start there.

Let’s talk about the kids behind the players

Has your child ever gone from “I can’t wait to play” to “I don’t want to go”? What helped them find their way back?

Tell me in the comments. Coaches, I’d love to hear from you, too. What do you do to help a new player feel like they belong?

You don’t need to name a team or a coach. I’m interested in what helped—and what we can learn from each other.

If Ari reminds you of a young player or a family you know, share this story with them. It might be the encouragement they need to give the game another try.

Ready to give it a try?

If your child wants to learn or could use some help finding their confidence, we’d love to welcome them to The Refinery Athletics in Azusa.

Send us “TRAIN” on Instagram at @the_refinery_athletics with your child’s age and what they’d like help with. We’ll recommend a class and help you book their first visit.

There are more Adventures with Ari coming. Wherever you’re reading from, you’re invited to follow along.

— Coach Anthony Sumpter

Dad, coach, and owner of The Refinery Athletics