BaBall
Posted by Paul on 19 Nov 2008 | Tagged as: Frivolous
Tomorrow I have to work up the courage to (mostly) finalize the junior basketball team that I am coaching. I have to admit, it’s consuming me. On one hand, I’m very excited about working with the players I have, but I am also dreading the cutting process. I am going to go with face to face, break it to them gently, and go from there. I’ve had great help in deciding my team. I have an assistant coach, but she’s also assistant coaching 2 other teams so she keeps pretty busy. What we were able to do at the end of last week was break the list down into “yes”, “yes/maybe”, “no/maybe” and “probably not.” This was very helpful, because I learned to stop looking at the “yes” players, because they had already made the team. Before long, the yes/maybes became a lot clearer and for the last 2 practices I’ve really only had to keep my eye on 8 players. It’s so tough and it makes me reflect back on to my high school basketball experience. I didn’t start playing basketball until grade 10, and this was mostly because I grew 8 inches between grades 9 and 10. As they say, you can’t coach someone how to be tall, but you can coach a tall player how to play.
Junior boys are competitive, and once the team is made I want to make them more competitive.
The difference between Thorold high sports and where I work, essentially, is that if you tried out for a team at Thorold high, you typically made it. This school is larger, more kids try out, and thus, I have to make some cuts. As it stands now, I plan to keep a roster of 15 players, 11 who will travel and play, 4 who won’t travel, will practice, and (hopefully) get better. 8 guards, 6 forwards, 1 player who I’d feel comfortable putting anywhere. I started working with him as a forward tonight, but when we were scrimmaging, he carried the ball up the court as good as my top guards do.
Tonight, I’ve spent my time at work, and walking around the house, spouting off motivational phrases and hard lines I need to use with my players to take themselves seriously and eventually win games. I am excited.
A big motivation for me to get into teaching was to have the opportunity to coach (basketball, specifically.) So far, I can’t think of a better way to be spending my time.
Cry of Love - Too cold in the winter - Theres nothing out there, but concrete, steel and snow






