When Tatum Peacock arrived at practice with her 12U Texas Glory team, the last thing she expected was homework.

But her coach, Bill Wark, had something different in mind.

Wark assigned the team Mental Toughness for Young Athletes, a book that introduced Peacock to an aspect of softball that would become increasingly important to her development.

The players were expected to read, take notes and come to practice prepared to discuss what they had learned.

“We had to read it. We had to take notes, come to practice and tell him all about it,” Tatum said. “That really helped because you see it from many different athletes and the mental side of every single different sport. That’s when I started to realize how important it was.”

Now playing for the 16U Texas Glory team, Tatum has carried those lessons with her. She has learned that developing as a softball player means more than refining her physical skills. It also means learning to respond to mistakes, support teammates and maintain the right mindset when things don’t go as planned.

“When I was younger, I’d get down on myself after one small mistake. They’ve helped me learn a lot mentally. Mistakes happen. It’s a big part of the game.”

Texas Glory has helped Peacock develop physically as well, surrounding her with talented players and coaches who challenge her to improve.

“It’s amazing. I love it so much. It really has pushed me because I’m constantly around very talented players, and the coaches, they all set us up for success.”

For Tatum, however, the mental side of the game isn’t just about handling adversity. It’s also about understanding what she can bring to a team.

Ask her to identify her greatest strength, and leadership is the first thing that comes to mind.

“Definitely my leadership. The way I can talk everybody up. I feel like emotionally I’m very present on the field, and defensively, I always have my pitcher’s back, so they never really have to worry about that.”

Her definition of leadership goes beyond being the loudest voice on the field or the player who takes charge.

“Being a leader is not being someone that’s in charge of everything. More so, being someone that is there to help when someone needs it.”

It’s a philosophy that reflects the kind of teammate Tatum wants to be, someone who recognizes when others need support and understands that leadership is as much about helping others succeed as it is about individual performance.

And if there’s one part of the game where she particularly enjoys making a difference, it’s on defense.

“Defense is my favorite thing in the world. I love defense so much.”

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Learning to Slow the Game Down

Softball isn’t the only sport that has helped shape Peacock’s approach to competition.

She also plays basketball, an experience she believes has made her a better softball player.

Basketball demands constant movement, quick decisions and the ability to react in an instant. Those challenges have helped her develop a different perspective when she returns to the softball field.

“It definitely helped me a lot in softball, staying in shape physically,” Tatum said. “It also keeps the competitive edge, knowing you’re always having to fight for a spot, whether it’s on the basketball court or on the softball field.”

But the biggest benefit might be how basketball has taught her to manage the pace of a game.

“Then when you go to softball, it’s like, okay, I can slow this down. If I can slow a basketball game down, I can slow a softball game down.”

That ability to stay composed and recognize what a situation requires is something Tatum continues to develop, both through her experiences in multiple sports and through the lessons she has learned at Texas Glory.

It also fits with her interest in the mental side of athletics. When asked what she might want to pursue professionally beyond her playing career, she said she has been considering several options but will most likely pursue sports psychology.

It’s an interest that connects naturally with the lessons she began learning years ago at practice, when a book assignment introduced her to the idea that an athlete’s mindset can be developed just like any other skill.

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Prepared for the Next Step

Tatum’s commitment to preparation extends beyond the field.

Balancing softball, basketball, school and other activities requires organization, and she has developed a system to keep everything straight.

It began when she realized how difficult it could be to coordinate a busy schedule with her father.

“We’d always talk about, okay, we’re going to do this this day, but we’d be like, oh, sorry, we can’t do that. I have a basketball game this day. I have basketball practice after school this day.”

Planning her schedule has helped her stay accountable and understand when she can fit in additional commitments and when she needs time off.

“It’s really helped me by keeping me accountable because it’s really easy to fit other plans in if you don’t have it scheduled.”

The same approach carries over into her academics, where she describes herself as very organized.

That discipline will be important as she continues navigating the college recruiting process.

Ranked No. 32 in the Line Drive Media 2029 HOT 100, Peacock has attended camps at programs including LSU, Auburn, Oklahoma, Missouri and Ole Miss. Rather than becoming consumed with where she might eventually play, she is focused on taking advantage of the opportunities in front of her.

“Definitely with an open mind. I’m very grateful for any opportunity I get. There’s not anything off the table because with everything that’s happened, a lot can change in a year.

“So, I’m just focused on becoming the best player I can be right now, instead of just worrying about where I’m going to end up.”

Watching teammates make their college decisions has only added to her excitement.

Texas Glory teammates Rhymee Rutherford, who committed to Oklahoma State, Addy Watson, who committed to New Mexico, and Vivian McKernan, who committed to Ole Miss, have provided examples of what the recruiting journey can look like.

“Watching them commit gave me all the feelings,” Peacock said. “I’m happy for all of them. It motivates me because I see their hard work all pay off, and it makes me really excited to go through that process as well.”

The camps have also given her opportunities to develop relationships with players from across the country. Many of the athletes she encounters are familiar faces by the time they meet again at another camp.

“It’s so fun. I make so many friends at all these camps,” she said. “Almost every girl at every camp that I go to now, I’m friends with because I see them at so many other camps, and we just follow each other. We text. It’s just really fun to build all these relationships through a sport.”

As she continues to evaluate college opportunities, Peacock is paying attention to more than the name on the front of a jersey.

The relationships coaches build with their players and the culture within a program are important considerations. She wants to find a place where she can continue to develop as a softball player while also finding the right environment for herself away from the field.

One question, in particular, will help guide her decision.

“Definitely the relationships again, but also asking myself if, like, would I be at this college if I wasn’t here for softball? Which is a really big thing for me. I don’t want to be there just because of a coach. I want to be there making sure that it’s really the right fit for me.”

It’s a thoughtful approach for a young athlete with years of development still ahead of her. Rather than trying to predict exactly where she’ll end up, Peacock is concentrating on what she can control: her preparation, her effort and her continued growth.

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A Team Effort

Through all of it, Tatum recognizes that her journey has never been hers alone.

Her parents, Sheldon and Meagan Peacock, have made significant sacrifices to help her pursue softball, from early-morning workouts and late nights to long drives and trips across the country.

“My parents have sacrificed so much for me. Even if it’s taking me 10 hours away to a softball camp or an hour and a half to a Plano tournament, they get up early for workouts. They stay late. They drive me home. They make sure our flights are all on time.”

Their support has helped make the opportunities she has today possible, and she doesn’t take that for granted.

“I don’t think I’d be doing this softball journey without them. I really appreciate everything that they do for me.”

For Tatum, the road ahead will bring more camps, more competition and eventually one of the biggest decisions of her young athletic career.

But the lessons she began learning at 12U remain relevant today. Preparation matters. Mistakes are part of the game. Leadership means being there for others. And success isn’t simply about finding the right opportunity — it’s about being ready when it arrives.

Tatum is still developing as a player, a teammate and a student of the game. For now, she’s focused on doing the work, embracing the opportunities in front of her and continuing to become the best player she can be.

— Roger McAfee/Line Drive Media correspondent