Recently a few of our 8th graders played in a tournament in Fishers, coached by our junior varsity coach Donald James. Their solid play reminded me of some important lessons.
"Beat 8" - When you are playing any game with officials, judges, or referees, you must practice with the intention of beating the five players on the court and (in high school) three officials. Officials are human. They call the game in favor of the team who works the hardest and plays the strongest. So regardless of whether you think the officials' calls are going your way or whether you are getting messed over, beat eight! If your team has this mindset, you will be much more successful.
"TNT" - "Takes No Talent" There are so many actions, movements, gestures, and contributions that you can make to your team and coaches that makes your team successful which "take no talent". Let's try to list a few: Sprinting back on defense every time, closing out with a hand up on a shooter while your bottom stays low, calling "mine" on a closeout, cheering your team on from the bench, staying in a defensive stance, pointing to the passer after hitting a shot, calling out screens, setting screens, blocking out, jump stopping, holding one's follow-thru, being coachable, clapping for a teammate, taking a charge, cutting hard, sliding one's feet to cut off the dribbler, high-fiving a teammate, talking about who has the shooter on the free-throw line, catching the basketball with two hands, pump faking, pass faking, coming to meet passes, and as Gordon Hayward did against Murray State, diving on the floor.
We should all view obstacles as opportunities. Enjoy the story below.
A Lesson on Overcoming Obstacles
In ancient times, a king had a huge stone placed in a roadway, then hid and watched to see if anyone would remove it. Some of the kingdom’s biggest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many of them loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none of them did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.
In ancient times, a king had a huge stone placed in a roadway, then hid and watched to see if anyone would remove it. Some of the kingdom’s biggest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many of them loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none of them did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.
Then a peasant farmer came along, carrying a load of vegetables on his back. When he came to the boulder, he laid down his burden and began trying to move it to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.
As he was picking up his vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold pieces and a note from the king indicating the gold was for the person who removed the stone from the roadway.
The peasant had learned what many others have learned since: Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one’s condition.
From Bits & Pieces on Leadership, November 2009
