Hallie’s started in a Salvation Army basketball league and seems excited about it. I wish it was a bit more organized, though: the staff is still trying to locate a coach.
Hallie went to her first practice yesterday and she and 9 other kids stood around until the athletic director asked if I could pinch hit as a coach for the day. While I’ve often considered volunteering to coach youth basketball, I expected to be more prepared before I took on my first team.
The result was a little shaky at first. Its never good to be doing anything for the first time when you’re heading up a group of ten six-year-olds. The kids sensed my initial lack of direction and filled it with their own play at first. I then started on some simple drills, like bounce passing, to get them started. By then another dad volunteered to chip in and together we got the kids going.
There are some kids on the team who have lots of learning to do, and not just about basketball. I see some of them have a real need for a mentor, or at least someone who can instill some self-esteem and discipline in them. Playing on a team is a wonderful way to learn that one can’t succeed alone, and that’s the lesson some of these kids need most.
The drills were soon over, which was good as the kids were losing interest and we were running out of things to work on. As I walked off the court, I felt a strong desire to be there next week and coach again. That’s not to be, however: my new schedule sadly doesn’t lend itself to 4 PM practices.
I don’t think for a minute that my coaching days are over, though.