I will admit right now that when it comes to basketball games, I am a competitor. I hate to lose. I honestly don't understand how some athletes can be a part of a team and just accept losing like it is as natural as eating or breathing. But the high school athletic world is full of people just like that. Yes, I understand that a team cannot win all the time and losing is a part of life and we have to learn to deal with it. But do we have to accept it?
But when a coach and a group of athletes decide together that they are not going to accept losing and will do everything they can to change losing ways and turn them into winning ways, then the victories begin to follow. But if there are no competitors and losing is an acceptable end to any game, then victories will never follow.
As I approach this new basketball season, I am hoping and praying that I find a team who will not accept losing. Three times before I have taken over programs that had become accustomed to losing, but found some true competitors who just needed their competitive spirit channeled in the right direction to turn things around. They hated to lose and would not accept losing. Once they were shown how to win, the sky became the limit. I hope I find the same thing this year with my new team. Do they really want to win or do they view losing as an acceptable end. I will be finding out in the next few months.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Longest Two Weeks of the Year
There are 13 days left before basketball season begins. Just less than two weeks before I get to spend several hours a day teaching, instructing, and coaching the game I love. But I just know this is going to be the longest two weeks of the year. I still have four volleyball games and five volleyball practices left before I can put on my basketball shoes, grab my whistle, and walk on to the gym floor with my practice plan in hand.
For a second sport, volleyball has not been too bad. The hours are nothing compared to those that football players put in. It is in the air-conditioned gym. And being the freshmen coach, it is not high stress. However, it is not basketball. It doesn't even pretend to be basketball. About the only similarities between volleyball and basketball is they are played in the same gym and they both have a round ball. In volleyball there seems to be an emphasis on smiling on the court and then having many premeditated dances, chants, sayings, and celebrations every time you make a point. In basketball, when we score, we simply get back on defense and focus on stopping our opponent. There is no dance or celebration or chant.
But very soon for me (but not soon enough), the sounds of basketball practice will begin echoing through the gym and the rituals of volleyball will soon fade into the distance. It is that time of year. It is my time to step up and step out and lead a basketball program. It is time to get a season underway. It is time to begin the march towards a championship.
No, it is not time yet. I still have two weeks. The longest two weeks of the year.
For a second sport, volleyball has not been too bad. The hours are nothing compared to those that football players put in. It is in the air-conditioned gym. And being the freshmen coach, it is not high stress. However, it is not basketball. It doesn't even pretend to be basketball. About the only similarities between volleyball and basketball is they are played in the same gym and they both have a round ball. In volleyball there seems to be an emphasis on smiling on the court and then having many premeditated dances, chants, sayings, and celebrations every time you make a point. In basketball, when we score, we simply get back on defense and focus on stopping our opponent. There is no dance or celebration or chant.
But very soon for me (but not soon enough), the sounds of basketball practice will begin echoing through the gym and the rituals of volleyball will soon fade into the distance. It is that time of year. It is my time to step up and step out and lead a basketball program. It is time to get a season underway. It is time to begin the march towards a championship.
No, it is not time yet. I still have two weeks. The longest two weeks of the year.
Monday, October 5, 2009
October
As October emerges from out of the shadow of the hot summer months, there is a different feeling in the air. The weather begins to have cooler days (if being in the 80s and 90s is considered cooler), the frantic panic of the hot summer drought is replaced by rainy days after rainy days. Some years the rains even bring damaging floods to the area. October means that high school football is in district play and the NFL season is in full swing. For me personally, October is a pleasant reminder of the day I married my wife nine years ago.
October also marks the official start of basketball. It begins the four and half month long journey that we know as a basketball season. It is the time that I am in my element. The long hours of practices, followed by the late nights of games and marathons of weekend basketball tournaments are all part of what I love about the journey of the season.
October is the time where I begin teaching the girls on my team what it means to not only play basketball, but how to become winners both on and off the court. It is the time that a new life is born (the season) and a family (the team) is formed. It is the beginning of an up and down journey that promises to have its share of both thrills and heartaches. It will be a journey that will either bring a team together or split it apart. October marks the start of something new, where old successes and old failures are put in the past and new goals are sought. In October, we start the dream of a championship season. In October, we hope and pray that the dream does not die before its time.
October is many things to many people. But for me, October is the beginning.
October also marks the official start of basketball. It begins the four and half month long journey that we know as a basketball season. It is the time that I am in my element. The long hours of practices, followed by the late nights of games and marathons of weekend basketball tournaments are all part of what I love about the journey of the season.
October is the time where I begin teaching the girls on my team what it means to not only play basketball, but how to become winners both on and off the court. It is the time that a new life is born (the season) and a family (the team) is formed. It is the beginning of an up and down journey that promises to have its share of both thrills and heartaches. It will be a journey that will either bring a team together or split it apart. October marks the start of something new, where old successes and old failures are put in the past and new goals are sought. In October, we start the dream of a championship season. In October, we hope and pray that the dream does not die before its time.
October is many things to many people. But for me, October is the beginning.
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