A Little Diddy To My Sports Minded Children

As the basketball season draws to a close, I am taking time to reflect on the lessons that team sports teach young athletes.

My daughter is finishing up her junior year of basketball. Her team has been extremely successful this year. It has been a delight to watch all of them compete this season. They ended the district play by winning the District 10 championship against some very competitive kids.

2016 District 10 Champions

I've been in her shoes. I played basketball throughout my high school career, logging endless hours in a gym. I see a lot of the same drive and passion in her ( although she is blessed to be 5'7" rather than 5'2"). Being a bit nostalgic, I dug out this old photo from the archives. Here I am during my junior year.

Me- Junior Season

Team sports are filled with highs and lows, great victories and agonizing defeats. Things don't always go right. Disappointments do happen, but what is learned is hard to measure.

Brooklyn - Junior Season

To my children:
These are the things that I hope you take away from participating in team athletics, whether your teammates wear jerseys and basketball shoes or is four legged and wears a saddle on his back.

1. Always work hard.
2. Play for your teammates as much as you play for yourself.
3. Be respectful. No matter if it is referee, judge, coach, or the custodian sweeping the gym, a lot of people dedicate their time for your benefit.
4. You win as a team and you lose as a team. Victory or defeat is not singular.
5. Never back down from a challenge.
6. Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
7. Show respect to your competitors. You never know when your paths will cross again.
8. Believe in yourself even when things are going wrong.
9. Keep it in perspective. It is a game and games are meant to be fun.
10. Enjoy it! This time in your life is short. Make the most of every experience.

Many life lessons are learned in the gym, field, and arena. Win, lose or draw, I hope you look back at it with fond nostalgia.  High school athletics will mold and shape you, but it will never define you. You will blink and this will all but be a memory. I hope you find a time to look back with your teammates and say, "Remember when..."

My last piece of advice comes from the rodeo arena:

When you are backed into a corner, remember all you have to do is nod.