Last weekend the San Francisco Giants celebrated kids day at the ballpark. Before the game they organized a panel discussion for youth baseball and softball players, and they invited me to sit on the panel as a softball representative. I was honored to be included! 

The panel was hosted by Amy G, a long time sports journalist in San Francisco. There were two SF Giants players interviewed, Catcher Sam Huff and Pitcher Lou Trivino, and me. I enjoyed talking to Amy G about my career, how I have seen women’s sports grow during my time in sports, and to share any leadership lessons that I have learned along the way. I talked about watching Giants players like Barry Bonds and Tim Lincecom play as a kid, and how I was inspired by my pitching Coach Maureen Brady growing up. 

Players from the audience also asked questions and it was such a fun experience to have the opportunity to inspire the next generation of softball and baseball players. My favorite part was connecting with fans after the panel. I couldn’t believe they asked me for my autograph!

Below is the transcript from my interview with Amy G. I hope you enjoy reading it and thank you to the Giants for having me!

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Amy G: We wanted a panel today that represents the title of today’s event which is Youth Softball and Baseball Day so we brought in a former professional softball player turned leader and teacher. Please welcome Claire Rietmann-Grout. Claire, let’s just start with a little bit about what you do now and how you feel softball and playing softball led to your career. 

Claire: Hey everyone nice to see you. I am Claire the Positive Coach. I’m really passionate about creating leaders through sport, especially women and girls. I learned many leadership lessons on the softball field and it really has brought me to where I am today. 

Amy G: Let’s chat about the path for women in sports, and how we can keep it growing. For me when I played volleyball at Davis that was the end of my career. I wasn’t going to go anywhere professionally, there weren’t even any leagues, so where do you think women’s sports has come, where does it need to go?

Claire: When I grew up there were no professional leagues to look up to. We didn’t even have days like today that included softball so this is huge and super cool. I played in college and that was it. I had aspired to play at the division one level for years and years and I accomplished my goal and I was like “Okay I did it.” And then I got a call from a professional league in Europe that invited me to pitch while traveling and that was a big opportunity. We’ve come so far. There are a number of softball leagues now for professionals which are really cool and exciting so go and support them. Buy tickets, buy gear, show up and get autographs, because that’s how we’re going to grow through investment. Also things like this, what the Giants are doing, inviting softball players, that’s really helping as well. 

Amy G: This is a very good time to invest in women’s sports, a lot of revenue opportunities there. Finally we’re seeing it. What inspired you to play softball? Did you play other sports and then how did you kind of hone in on softball?

Claire: My first sport was ballet and then when I was nine all my friends decided to play, and I had never done it before, but it sounded like fun, so I went and I tried something new. I just kept going back every single year and sooner or later my friends were no longer playing and I was still on the team and leading the team.

Amy G: That’s fantastic you mentioned some leadership lessons that you learned through playing softball. I can’t stress that enough especially for the young ladies that are here who play sports. The advantage you have in life because so many of the lessons you learn in sports translate into friendships, relationships and the work space. What did it do for you? 

Claire: For me I learned a lot about resilience because I was a pitcher and I threw balls all the time but I had to forget about that so I could throw the next strike. I was failing publicly all the time and being able to have a short-term memory to throw the next pitch, do the next thing. That helped me when I played. And now I have to be resilient every day as an adult.

Amy G: What is the key, Claire, to reset and focus on the next pitch or the next batter? I know we have some pitchers in the audience. 

Claire: I love that you asked that question. The key to resetting is taking a deep breath. In through your nose, out through your mouth, because it slows everything down. It slows your body down, it slows the game down, and when you’re breathing and taking that time to yourself, then when 5,000 screaming fans are looking at you, it’s okay and you can feel confident to throw the next pitch. You can also breathe during your math test, you can breathe in your job interview, and so breathing is something you can do on the softball field or the baseball field and translate the rest of your life.

Amy G: All right, let’s talk a little about some fun questions, like who were your favorite baseball players and softball players growing up? Who did you love to watch play the game?

Claire: Let’s start with the Giants, I grew up going to Candlestick Park so Barry Bonds, obviously. I also watched Tim Linsecum pitch, which was really fun to watch. I love all those swing and miss strikes at the balls in the dirt. And then softball wise my softball idol was actually my pitching coach, her name is Maureen Brady and she was the most positive, most humble person, and she inspired me to continue in my career.

Amy G: What was your favorite ballpark snack?

Claire: I really like the caramel corn here, the kind that you eat with a spoon. Delicious.

Amy G: Now we will take a few questions from some players in the audience. 

Audience Member: What is your best tip for pitchers?

Claire: My best tip for pitchers is to have fun and practice because any of the work that you do in the dark, when no one’s watching, will pay off on game day. Practice builds confidence not perfection.

Audience Member: What do you miss most about playing?

Claire: I absolutely miss being with my teammates every single day the most. Enjoy your teammates. Enjoy the bus rides, enjoy chewing gum in the dugout. I definitely miss the people. 

Amy G: Mistakes are part of the game in baseball and softball, but what about mistakes are a really great opportunity to flip the script on how we look at it as a young player?

Claire: Mistakes are part of the game especially in baseball and softball. If you are batting .300 you’re failing .700 right? That’s a lot! I think one way to get over those mistakes is finding balance between you as an athlete and you as a person, because if you are like “oh I dropped the ball, but my family still loves me, I still have friends, I still am good at school.” It’s not not the end of the world, so developing yourself and your identity as a person first, and being an athlete second is huge.

Amy G: I want to ask you about leadership. I feel like at this level leaders are fairly clear. Like the catcher is usually leading the team, but when you’re young and playing youth sports anyone really has an opportunity to be a leader. What would be your advice to our young athletes here today on using their voice, finding their voice and developing leadership skills?

Claire: As a leadership coach, I want every single one of you to know you are a leader because you’re on a team. Maybe you’re a vocal leader, saying good job to your teammates, maybe you’re a leader by example by hustling all the time. Every one of you is a leader and you can find your voice on the field by cheering, and because you learned to do that, then all of a sudden in the classroom, you’re not scared to raise your hand, or when you become an adult you’re not afraid to speak up for what you believe in because you practiced that skill already on the field.

Amy G: This was awesome. I just want to thank you for your time, Claire. 

Claire: Thank you for having me!