I’m writing this blog riding shotgun in the seven seater ford galaxy the Elks travel to for games. I say seven seater, but really its closer to 5… somehow though we always find a way to cram a basketball team into this thing.
We just got our 9th win of the premier league season against the Omagh Thunder. This year I’ve had the pleasure of coaching and playing with the “local league” squad. (If you are wondering about the different leagues across the island, read my last blog “The Ins and Outs of Elks Hoops”). It’s been quite a learning experience coaching this team. I have had some experience coaching in youth camps back home, but have never had the chance to coach a group of guys the same age as me. I have learned to organize a practice plan, effectively communicate the knowledge I have acquired through my experience as a player, develop meaningful relationships with my players off the court, and make a number of tough in-game decisions.
Specifically, it has been hard for me to split up playing time amongst the group. Most of the guys on the team are older than me. They are my friends and classmates. It’s easy for doubt to creep in. What gives me the authority to tell someone they can’t come into the game? Will they get angry if they don’t see enough of the court?
More than once this year I have had to choose between rewarding talent or hard work. We practice every Monday at 7, and some weeks we have only had 3 or 4 players show up. And every week, it’s the same 3 or 4 guys. They have been committed to the team, paid their dues, shown up to every game, gone out of their way to wash kits and drive to away matches, message me on Facebook to see if they can get extra shots up… but this particular group of 4 is not the most talented or experienced.
On the other hand, some guys are very good basketball players, but only show up to practice and even games when it suits them. They walk into the gym expecting to start immediately, with no regard for the players who have worked their butts off in practice.
This predicament has been my hardest to deal with as a coach. If I play the 4 who are dedicated and done all the right things, we may lose a winnable game. If I play the talented, uncommitted guys, I am essentially rewarding them for their lack of effort.
I have made the decision that no matter what the score is, no matter the opponent or situation, I will always make sure that players who stay committed to the team, who show up to practice and do all the little things, will see the floor. Basketball- and sport in general- HAS to be bigger than wins and losses. If the Sport Changes Life foundation has taught me anything, it’s that. I believe that developing your players as human beings should be the number one priority of any coach at any level. And hopefully, by rewarding commitment and hard work on the court, players will develop the same characteristics off of it.
