Teamwork and You...a Story for all time...

August 2024

MY DREAM BECOMES A REALITY

I was blessed to coach all three of my children in Katy Youth basketball. My last child entered the basketball system upon entering the first grade. Up to this point, I had coached 7th-8th graders and 4th-5th graders. My practice book had been honed during my tenure as head coach for my first two children…

REALITY SETS IN

What I did not expect, the first night of practice for my younger son’s team, was a young boy who had never picked up a basketball. During practice, he was passed the ball but did not reach out to catch the ball…it hit him squarely on the nose, which immediately brought tears…He spent the rest of the practice sitting on the bench. His mother called me later that evening to say that William was withdrawing from basketball…I was saddened to hear this news.

I GET A "DO OVER"

I asked that William give practice another try and I would personally take over coaching the first-grade boys. I segregated the team into the first-graders and the second-graders (who had played the previous year). I had the first-graders put on dark sunglasses before we started dribble drills, the practice was quickly filled with laughter and joy. In no time, William was hooked! (P.S. I did throw out my playbook and started over).

CHAPTER TWO OF MY STORY

But the story continues. We were playing a late-season game. William and the first-grade boys were playing in the third period. William rebounded a missed offensive shot and immediately looked for someone to pass the basketball to. You see, William had never taken a shot during any game. Well, his teammates on the bench yelled, "William, take the shot," and guess what—he did. It was undoubtably the most exciting part of the game.

AND THE CROWD WENT WILD

He missed the hoop and the backboard. But it didn't matter. The whole team broke onto the court, and all team members surrounded William, clapping and telling him how great it was that he took the shot. No one mentioned that he missed the basket!

The Referee came over to me and said, "I do not know what penalty to call—let's just get everyone off the court, coach!" 

THE REST OF THE STORY...

After the game William was awarded the game ball. Everyone was still talking about "the shot," and no one mentioned the missed basket…a wonderful example of teamwork.