Dahhhhhhh, this group of goofballs. Coaching these two teams has had so many ups and downs, but in the end I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
For the 8th grade boys red team, we were coming off a fairy tale season. In a situation where we had to basically win out the rest of our season to take the championship, every game was a nail biter. But, somehow we made it into playoffs, beat the number one seed and took the championship in convincing fashion.
Now, enter the 2010-2011 season, with the addition of Mark and David from DeMarillac, we set our goals and continued our work to get back to the top. The returning squad did a good job welcoming their new teammates, communicating and enjoying each other’s company both on and off the court.
As opposed to last season, this season started solid, but took a turn for the worst as we slumped going into the post season. I distinctly remember the game where it went downhill. We were playing Bayview YMCA at St. Stephen’s and I couldn’t understand what was going wrong with the team. There was no energy and it was just not basketball. It was probably the most frustrating game I’ve ever coached.
Looking back to my high school days, I can remember my coach furiously stomping back and forth along the sideline when we weren’t playing well, and I think it might have rubbed off on me in this game.
The weight of this loss carried over into our season and forced us into a rut. Although the boys brought back the fire in the last couple games of the season, it just was not enough to get back to the top again. Although we failed to meet our goals, this season was still a great journey. It shows a lot of character to come back up when you have fallen, but in the end this team hit their limits for the 8th grade level.
In my speech, during awards night I referenced a speech by Denzel Washington at the 2011 commencement for the University of Pennsylvania. For this season, I’ll pull two points he mentioned. First, “You will fail at some point in your life, accept it, you will lose, you will embarrass yourself, you will suck at something.” Although it may not be to that extreme, I saw these boys hit a low in this season. Second, “every graduate here today has the training and the talent to succeed, but do you have the guts to fail. If you don’t fail you’re not even trying.” These boys did have the guts, after some tough losses they rose up again and worked hard every practice to prepare for what was ahead. Although we did not reach our goal, each player learned something about himself simply through the work they put in. I hope they continue to commit that work ethic into all the future endeavors they wish to pursue.
For the 8th grade girl’s team, when I joined them last year as their coach, they were already champions. Through a lot of hard work, every girl on the team stepped up their game and met the challenge of repeating the top glory in their division. Now to this year, coming off back-to-back championships, a three-peat would be an even greater feat to accomplish. The toughest thing about winning a championship is getting back to the top, these girls did it once, but could they do it again. Accepting this challenge, the team set their goals and went to work.
One of the most unique things about this team was that we had seven girls coming from four different schools to play. Amanda came from Cornerstone, Beverlyn from somewhere far far away, Gavy and Precious from DeMarillac and Serina, Marissa and Catharine from St. Mary’s. The tough thing about having this type of situation is that the girls don’t get the chemistry from seeing each other everyday. Also, missing girls at practice just makes it even more difficult to get everyone on the same page. But, each girl took the risk and the challenge, jumping two divisions to once again get to the top.
The road to the top would not be an easy one for this team. Every game was met with new challenges. At their best these girls were a force to be reckoned with in their division. But, at times it was difficult to find the consistency we needed game in and game out.
This consistency issue became most apparent in our playoff game. Adversity struck, falling ill to food poisoning, Marissa sucked up the pain and played through this big game. In a situation like this, it’s important for your teammates to step up to help each other out. Who would rise to the occasion? It was amazing to see the spark from players like Gavy, who left it all on the court, battling for boards and buckets. This energy helped bring the team back from the brink, as we gained momentum and took the lead late in the game. But, the team soon ran out of gas as the little mistakes pulled the plug on their championship hopes.
Drawing again from Denzel’s speech, he said, “To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.” When everything was said and done, I am certain that these girls had a great experience in St. Mary’s basketball. They took the risk of trying something new and became part of a very special sports program. Although we did not take the top spot, it is the hard work and time spent with each other that these girls will keep with them. Basketball may be just a game, but from this game, these girls were able to gain the experience of being part of a team, working together for a common goal. For those who watch the sport, you may remember the games and the accomplishments, but for those who play, those trophies are just the cherry on top because the journey is what will keep you grounded.
What motivates you?
John Wooden was an All-American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the “Wizard of Westwood,” he led UCLA to 10 NCAA titles in a 12-year period. He won 7 of those in a row and had a win streak of 88 consecutive games. He won national coach of the year 6 times and coached the likes of Kareem Abdul Jabar and Bill Walton. Almost one year ago on June 4, 2010 John Wooden passed away at the ripe age of 99, but his lessons still live on.
Why have I given this short bio? John Wooden was a great coach who was known for his short inspirational messages to his players. These lessons were often directed at how to be successful, both in basketball and in life. I have been blessed with many great teachers and roles models and it is those lessons I try to remember in coaching these teams.
One of the most memorable messages I’ve read about was the first lesson Wooden would teach his players at the beginning of each season. Wooden would sit his team down in the locker room and explain how to put on their shoes. He would break it down from putting on socks properly to having a proper sized basketball shoe to avoid calluses. Eventually, Wooden would finish his lesson by teaching his team how to tie their shoelaces.
This is a testament to how Wooden approached life and teaching. Although it may not seem like much, it was a very important lesson. You may not realize it, but everyday we put a lot of stress on our feet. In the case of basketball, and sports in general, that weight is magnified. On the girls all star Sunday, I wore a pedometer. On that day alone I accumulated 22,245 steps. But, every step was worth it.
It is important to always start with a solid foundation. Although these lessons may seem simple, sometimes it is these simple things that have the biggest meanings. At awards night I handed out picture frames to both my teams in the graduating class of 2011. On the bottom of each frame I tied one shoelace. These shoelaces are just a symbol to remind these teams of their roots and the foundation that they have built here at St. Mary’s Athletics. Whether you choose to continue in basketball or choose a different activity, remember the lessons you’ve gained in your years here, be passionate about what you do and make sure you enjoy it in both the good times and the tough times.
No comments:
Post a Comment