That's right folks, Upward Basketball is right around the corner. This will be my second year as a head coach for the program. It's hosted by my church again this year and we have 300+ kids signed up and sorted into teams. For those of you who don't know about the program it is a youth ministry done at churches around the country. The primary focus is not on basketball itself but on the basics of Christianity and trying to lead these children to a relationship with The Lord. Awards are given to players at each practice for memory verses and after each game for performance.
The thing I love about this program is that each individual player is evaluated and then assigned to a team. The coaches are then given a roster and a handbook that covers devotions, coaching, and player substitution among other things. Each child gets to start the game at some point during the season on a rotational schedule. In addition no child sits the pine for more than 6 minutes. No longer is it about picking your friends to play with you and the least skilled player rides the pine for the entire game barring injuries. It's finally time to have fair play and you get this with the program.
Game day is a great experience for the kids. They are introduced via MC on the microphone with some "inspirational" music playing. Their big entrance is behind a curtain that they burst through and flowing fog rolling at their feet. That alone makes game day special for them. we do a few warm up shots and then all of the players are gathered in the center of the court for matching up with their assigned person to guard and then a prayer done by the referees. Then the coaches hit the side lines and the game continues until the end.
Post game takes place in the locker room where the kids get some water or Gatorade and talk about the game with the coaches. Then each player is awarded a star for their performance that day. Watching these kids get their awards and congratulate each other is a real treat for me. The positive sportsmanship toward the guys that did great and even the guys that messed up is wonderful.
I can't wait for this season to start in January. I have a meeting with my assistant coach tonight so we can figure out what we want to cover and review the devotionals. Then its just a few short weeks until the first practice. I can't wait (are you getting the point that I'm excited about this).
Regardless I've got to pay the rent so I had best get back to work.
Joe.
1 comment:
You are so cute. Be sure to let me know when your games are and I'll try to make a few of them.
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