YTB

I cannot sum my year up in a single blog post writing in an effort to make the trials and tribulations of 2014 seem as if they are the lose ends of a rope that have simultaneously been tied off as the year comes to a close. I do not have plans to make a resolution that will slowly slide from my focus after the first week of the year. My resolutions from year to year have consistently stayed the same and are more of a bucket list than anything--I cross something new off as each year passes. I am not setting expectations for what I anticipate the new year to bring--mainly because people do the bringing, not the new year. What I am going to do is be obedient to what my mother asked of me and sit here and write this blog post.

When I was home for Christmas, I saw a quote on my door which begged the question, "If everyone on the team is doing what I am doing, is the team getting better or worse?" I was given the quote my sophomore year of high school--I only know that because it is to "Leeon" which is a nickname that lasted me all of a few games my sophomore season--and thank god because I would much rather be LAW. Thinking about the quote and about how it applied to my life in high school and the girls that I coach now, I am thankful for what basketball (and not necessarily basketball per se but a shared mutual love and passion) has brought to my life. I played with a group of girls who worked hard and all of the life lessons I learned by being a part of that team are lessons I want to teach my girls between now and the end of their senior season. No, basketball isn't life, but I would argue that it taught me more about life than most things I worked at in high school--besides Mrs. Watson's calculus class. 

I learned that just because you get a year older doesn't mean that you gain a year in ability. I remember being in a huddle down by the free-throw line at the visitor locker room and being told that just because you graduated from your junior year to your senior year didn't mean that you would get any better at basketball. I also remember in that conversation our coach telling us that not everyone will be the best player--regardless of how hard they worked. But then go back to the quote--if the best player on the team isn't working as hard as I am, are we getting better or are we getting worse? My girls and I have this conversation all of the time--about basketball and about all aspects of life--you have to work hard. 

I learned that the team doesn't need you--you need the team. Whenever a player gets to the point where they think that the team cannot succeed without them, they are a virus to the team. My principal tells us this all of the time as well--the school doesn't need any one specific teacher or administrator to function and do well. High school girls (and probably people in general) seem to particularly struggle with feeling that they are needed but I think it is a good lesson to learn sooner rather than later--the team doesn't need you. 

I learned that Press Maravich was right...

Press Maravich: [to his players at practice] I am not spending valuable hours of my life just to teach you boys to throw a ball through an iron hoop. This is a way of life, I want players to think. Work, sweat, challenge themselves, discipline themselves, because anything else you boys it just isn't worth it, to anyone. The problem with you boys is simple. You're all a bunch of dummies 'cause you think you know it all. Give me the ball.

[He draws a small circle on the ball]

Press Maravich: You see this circle? The size of this circle represents everything that I know about basketball. But the size of this ball represents everything about the game that has never been dicovered.

[He puts a small dot on the ball]

Press Maravich: This dot is what you know, combined.

[throws the ball back to the player]

Press Maravich: Now if you'll forget about the girls and cars and listen to me you can accomplish things that you never thought were possible. I don't care if you're short, slow, tall, or small. You can play with the best of them if you'll dedicate yourself to becoming better.

I'm pretty sure our coach also thought we were dumb a good portion of the time--we were definitely a bunch of know-it-alls but we were also smart girls and wanted to work hard. I don't know that we ever forgot about the boys and honestly, we didn't really accomplish anything overly great in basketball. However, I know we have accomplished things we never thought were possible--for instance, I never thought I would be the person standing on the sideline of a game. 

I grew up in a basketball town--sometimes I think it's something in the water. We played basketball all of the time. No, we weren't in the gym every single day of our lives, but a good majority of the year we were in the gym. I never had to struggle through my teammates not knowing the game or buying into whatever our goals were as a team. Everyone expected us to play basketball and at least be decent--and by everyone I mean our coaches, parents, teachers, peers, the whole community. In some ways it was easier to work towards our goals--people supported us and believed in us (or at least I think they did). I do not coach in a basketball town. No one expects my girls to play ball decently. I have watched them struggle through this season of change and their growth this year is just a testament to how much they love the game and how much they care about one another. The other two coaches are supportive of our girls and I really do love working with them because we all share a love for the game and even more, teaching the girls how to work hard. There isn't anything in the water and I doubt this will ever be a basketball town but the girls are passionate--I believe in them and the goals that they have. So if nothing else, I hope that basketball teaches my girls about life and more than anything to know that they are loved.