I'm guessing you know that I got married this past year.  Along with a wife I also gained Julia's kids, Jordan and Victoria.  So not only did I become a husband, I became a father. 

 

Now Jordan is in 7^th grade and has been into basketball his whole life.  Last year he joined the basketball team of his small Christian school.  The team is made up of boys in grades sixth through eighth.  His team one a total of two games last year.  Like two out of a fifty.  And they'd lose some games like 46 to 6.  They weren't even games, it was like lay-up drills for the other team.

 

So anyways I was going to all of Jordan's practices so I could watch him and help him get better.  At the same time I noticed that we didn't have enough coaches for the 18 kids who signed up.  Now I like how this school does stuff – they do not turn down any kids who want to play.  But when you are playing a scrimmage during pratice (that's 10 kids in a game) – then 8 other kids are just goofing off.  So I decided to offer to help out.  So eventually I became an assistant coach.

 

Now you might ask yourself, I've never really noticed Conrad ever talk about basketball before.  I wonder where he gets his knowledge of coaching?  Does Conrad have this unseen talent?  Does he have a hidden basketball background?  Where does he get his coaching knowledge?

 

Are you ready for the answer to be revealed?

 

I got it from…

 

…the internet.

 

Yes.

 

So I've learned a lot about basketball over the past couple of weeks.  I now know that a basket is worth two points and not one point like in soccer.  And apparently one cannot intentionally trip an opposing player or elbow them in the face.  Whew knew?

 

Since it is a Christian school, I do bring something useful to the table because of my background – which is the spiritual character side of coaching. 

 

"God does not care about the score.  He cares about people."  And that's our motto for the season.  I made that up.  Feel free to use it when your team is losing. 

 

But for real, it is true and this whole middle school basketball thing and anything else in life is really about one thing.  God.  And how do you involve God into basketball?  It's more than just about teaching discipline and hard work.  That's fine and all.  It's about teaching them to have a good attitude for one's self but also to act Christ like with their teammates and opponents. 

 

I am having them encourage one another.  Hopefully they will take this attitude back to school and home.

 

Strangely enough I can't find any strategies for coaching that on any basketball coaching website. 

 

Well, we have a game today. 

 

Hopefully I won't get ejected this time.