09 season
ive taken up coaching again, this time 14 to 16 year olds, and its incredible fun. i love getting to interact, teach, and be a part of these kids lives... even if just for two hours a week. i have a great team, and all the kids listen to me and get along well. every person on the team seems to really enjoy being there, even those that dont care too much about basketball (u know the kids who have to play cuz there parents want to drop them off for a few hours a week), so much so to the point that all the kids have asked me to go to wood ranch as a team... ive coached a few times and never had so many kids love playing and being a part of a team. but today was an awful story.... one of the kids on our team lost it, almost got in a fight with another kid from another team, started cussing out the refs and some of the parents in the stands, and started to cry while just going absolutely nuts. this sparked another kid on our team to go nuts, screaming on the ground and pounding his fist into the wood floor..... we loss a close game by 1 point, our first loss of the season after basically blowing out every other team. i obviously dont care if we win or lose, but now i have to find out how to deal with these two kids, how to pull them aside (which i did after the game) and explain how to keep their emotions in check and be under control - it will be a challenge but one i look foward to. its been an amazing experience, as it always is, getting to know all these kids and teaching them - and them listening - and seeing a bunch of strangers work together for a common goal. i drew up one play today after half time, and the whole team was laughing thinking it wasnt going to work. after half time u r supposed to switch sides, so i told them to pretend they were still going the same side, and just make a layup on the other side - a diversion play that would look silly and unbelievable in a disney movie - like a play straight out of the mighty ducks - but it worked and everyone on the team was laughing and smiling... including me.... just another awesome moment that i get to have all the time with these kids.