Softball is more than recreation for firefighters. It builds the trust, teamwork, relationships, and culture that strengthen the firehouse and ultimately make us better on the fireground
I have been playing softball for my volunteer fire department for many years now. Long before most of the players on our current team were even born. That realization makes me smile more than it makes me feel old. It is a reminder of how long the game has been a part of my life and, more importantly, the benefits of softball being intertwined with the fire service.
Throughout my FDNY career, I also played on fire company softball teams. Some of my favorite memories from those years have very little to do with the final score. As a young firefighter, I would bring my daughter to the games when she was just a little girl. I was not the only one. Other firefighters did the same. The kids chased foul balls, played together, and waited patiently for the game to end so they could run onto the field. Something my granddaughter does now, when I am lucky enough to have her join me at my games.
Looking back now, I realize those mornings were about much more than softball. They were about family, friendship, and strengthening the bonds that made us better firefighters.
Many people see a fire department softball game as simply recreation. They see firefighters enjoying a day outside, getting some exercise, and competing against another company or department. There is certainly nothing wrong with that. Staying active is important, and a little healthy competition never hurts. But anyone who has spent years on these teams understands that something much more significant is taking place.
Building the Team Beyond the Firehouse
The softball field is another place where the team is built, and culture is instilled.
In today’s fire service, we often talk about training, leadership, communication, and culture. We invest countless hours in drills and classes to improve our operational performance. Those are all essential, but there is another component of team building that cannot always be replicated during a training evolution. It happens when firefighters spend time together outside of training and emergency responses.
A softball game creates those opportunities naturally.
Senior firefighters and newer members stand side by side in the dugout. Generational differences disappear as everyone works toward a common goal. Conversations that might never happen at the firehouse take place between innings or during batting practice. Relationships are strengthened, trust grows, and the next emergency response runs a little smoother because we know one another better.
The Firehouse in a Different Setting
We celebrate victories together. We laugh about mistakes. We endure the occasional tough loss. We tease each other after someone strikes out or misses an easy fly ball. Then we show up the following week and do it all over again.
Sound familiar?
It is not very different from the firehouse.
Few, if any, responses will go perfectly. Sometimes we perform exceptionally well, and sometimes we learn valuable lessons. The important thing is that we continue to show up for one another, support each other, and improve together.
Character Is the Foundation
One of our most respected senior members, Mike Sutherland, who has been a long-time member of both our softball team and our volunteer fire department for many years, recently said something that perfectly captures what our team represents:
“The group we have never backs down and always supports one another; I will take that every time.”
I could not agree more.
His words are not really about softball; they are about character.
They reflect the type of people every fire department hopes to have, individuals who can be counted on, who stand by one another, and who understand that success is measured by the team rather than individual accomplishments.
It describes the type of firefighters we all want standing beside us.
Everyone Has a Role
Skill and athletic ability certainly help on the softball field, just as technical proficiency matters on the fireground. But what he is really talking about is teamwork, dependability, and character. Those qualities matter just as much.
There is another lesson reinforced on the softball field.
Everyone has a role.
Not everyone is a home run hitter. Not everyone plays shortstop. Some players quietly make the routine defensive plays that win games. Fire departments are no different. Every firefighter contributes differently. Some excel on medical emergencies, while others are exceptional pump operators. Some become outstanding instructors, mentors, or leaders. Success comes from recognizing those strengths and allowing everyone to contribute to the team’s overall success.
Putting People in Position to Succeed
The secret is finding the best position for both the individual and the team. Great leaders put people where they have the greatest opportunity to succeed.
When individuals succeed, the team succeeds.
Corporate America has understood this concept for decades. Before joining the FDNY, I worked for Estée Lauder and played on both the company’s competitive softball team and its intramural team. The company understood that these games were never just about softball. They were an investment in building stronger teams. High-performing organizations intentionally create opportunities for employees to interact outside of work because they know that personal relationships improve professional performance.
Teams that know one another communicate better, trust one another more, and perform more effectively under pressure. The fire service is no different. The stronger our relationships before the alarm sounds, the stronger our performance when it does.
Building Trust Before the Alarm
Whether it is softball, the fire department racing team, a fire department picnic, a holiday gathering, or another social event, these activities strengthen relationships that ultimately influence performance on the fireground. Long before the tones drop, they build trust. And trust is one of the most valuable tools we can bring to an emergency scene.
After all these years, I still enjoy the competition. I still enjoy swinging the bat, making a play in the field, and hopefully contributing to another victory. But winning games is no longer what brings me back every season.
I come back because of the people on the team, my brother and sister firefighters.
The teammates standing beside me on the softball diamond will be the same people standing beside me on the fireground. Every practice, every game, every joke in the dugout, and every post-game conversation further builds those relationships. At the same time, it reinforces our department’s culture and reminds us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, our team.
Photo: 2026 East Farmingdale Volunteer Fire Department Softball Team
