With all the attention given during the 2014 All Star Game, as well as others stretching for something negative to point out, there are a ton of lessons to be learned from Derek Jeter’s tenure on and off the field.

Baseball has been longing for a super star, a 5-tool player (not on performance enhancing drugs) to transcend the game. There are obviously a few young super stars that are well on their way. Home runs bring fans in the stands, but does not keep them there. Case in point, Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown a few years ago, a feat which most of us thought we’d never see in our lifetime; however it has not changed the game. In general the more runs, points, or goals scored in any sport keep us interested. As rules change for sports like football to enhance excitement, baseball and other sports in America struggle to keep up. In fact it’s not even close. To become a fan for life of baseball is much harder to accomplish these days. We have become obsessed with instant gratification.

However, Derek Jeter has been able to accomplish more than any home run record could bring. He has passed down VALUE to a new culture of athletes on how to act (win or lose, on or off the field) that WILL be absorbed by the younger MLB players today. He is a throwback of an athlete who played the game with pride, hustle, and understood from Day 1 what that meant. This obviously was instilled in him before he even made it to the Major Leagues, and is a testament to his character, family, and upbringing. For most major leaguers today, they grew up idolizing Derek Jeter because he a winner. Managers in the MLB respect his character and wish their players follow suit. This is the reason why he was honored. In a time where we continue to hear about athletes make bonehead mistakes off the field that cost them a lot more than their professional career, we should all tip our hats to the Captain. I’ve used Derek Jeter before in lessons, like others have been for years. Great athletes and coaches look to improve or learn something and there are some valuable lessons here.

I’m sure Derek is not perfect and people who love to point out what he cannot do or doesn’t do, or will find something negative. That’s okay, the older I get the more I am willing to weed out constant negative people and so should you. For every negative influence, replace with a positive one, and you will see a beneficial difference in your free time, focus, and stress.

Tangible examples are great tools for coaches to use, and Derek Jeter brings some powerful ones to the plate. Here are just a few positive habits Derek has that youth athletes can pick up-

Mental Focus — Derek keeps things very even keel. He does not get too excited or down on himself, this helps when handling pressure situations. For the athletes that get a bit amped up or have anxiety during these situations, I’d suggest adding meditation, visualization, and basic positive self-talk to your routine. For those that may feel too calm, it is important to note that HE WANTS to be in this situation. He mentioned during an interview “that it is difficult to watch games that he is not playing in”. He embraces the challenge, his intentions are warrior driven, and he does not run away from it mentally. It is easier said than done, but it is something most do not work on. So keep in mind your intentions should be aggressive even if you are physically relaxed.

Accountability — As a young athlete, Derek’s parents added goal setting to his routine. He literally had to write down goals and expectations spanning across his school, home, and sports routine. Writing things down for youth athletes such as “saying no drugs, no to steroids, and commitment to school, grades” actually go a long way and can develop into daily positive habits. I’d suggest athletes write this up with a coach, instead of a parent, you will get more value from the athlete here…

Confidence & Humility — People often assume that you MUST be humble, but I think our impression of that is often misleading and translates to ‘not being arrogant’. They are 2 different things and the adult generation respects him for his character. Be respectful, seek to learn from others who have been there, but make no mistake about, believe in yourself. In high school Derek was often quoted on how he would play for the New York Yankees. It is okay to dream, be confident, and have some swag but keep it in check.

There are dozens and dozens of unique skills that Derek Jeter has, that our youth can learn from, and I’m glad he was recognized not so much by MLB but the younger generation of professional players who hope to be just like him sooner than later.