Better All the Time

I'm actually going to Post twice in the same day!!

Dane is playing basketball on the Middle School "B" Team.  He loves it.  However, my son is easy-going and lopes down the court, in no hurry to beat the ball to the opposing team's basket, nor his own.  He prefers to not guard; he doesn't like being that aggressive with people he doesn't even know.  Taking out his aggressions on his younger brother is far more appropriate.

He has a wonderful coach, Jimmy Dresser, the father of one of his classmates.  Jimmy is gentle and long-suffering.  He's kind and a great teacher and knows his stuff.  We were delighted to hear he'd be coaching Dane's team this year.  Jimmy, in his gentle way, has worked with Dane to get him to actually RUN downcourt and GUARD the opposition.

After every game, Dane wants to talk about it.  We'll get in the van and he'll say,

"Okay, Mom, I want to talk about the game!!" 

He'll ask what I thought about his playing and talk about specific plays.  Game after game, I find myself saying,

"That's the best game you've ever played, Son."

And it's true.  He improves noticeably with every single game.

In their last game, Dane fouled out.  As he walked off the Court, his shoulders were slumped and his head was down, but he had a little smile on his face.  In the car going home, I said,

"I know how you felt, Son, and you didn't need to be embarrassed."

"How could you have possibly known how I felt, Mama.  So, tell me.  How DID I feel?"

"Well, you were embarrassed and a little ashamed, but you thought that if you put that plastered-on smile on your face, your friends would think fouling out didn't matter to you and they'd still think you were cool."

"That's just scary, Mom.  How can you know what I was thinking?!"  He just doesn't get this whole Mom-thing.

Later, Don talked with his coach, Jimmy.  He came home and told Dane,

"Uncle Jimmy was really pleased with how you played.  He said it was great that you fouled out, because that meant you were playing hard and that you're learning to guard.  He said for you not to worry.  Fouling out just means you're in the game, playing."  I think this consoled Dane a little.

Last night, they played a team from a school whose Principal is the younger brother of our Middle School Principal.  He's a graduate of our school.  On this team is a boy who grew up with our boys and played alongside them for years.  Now, he's attending another private school and is "the opponent".  Dane was really nervous going into the game and didn't think his team would play well.

The score was neck-in-neck for most of the game.  We'd get a basket, then they'd get one.  They'd get a basket, then we'd get one.  They'd foul us and we'd get a free shot.  Then they'd get a basket.  And on it went.  In the final quarter, they began to pull away from us a little.  Then they built some momentum and were 6 points ahead with only one minute to go in the game.  Dane had a couple of fouls against him, but was guarding more carefully and didn't foul out.  With only 30 seconds left in the game, Dane throw a ball from a little short of the half-court line and MADE A 3-POINTER!!  We went crazy!!  Unfortunately, we weren't able to make up the last 3 points and we lost 26 - 23 (I think - something like that, anyway).

Coming home in the van, I told Dane,

"That was the best game you've ever played.  You're learning to guard correctly.  You're getting more aggressive.  You're RUNNING down court and trying to steal the ball.  You got a ton of rebounds.  And that 3-pointer, Son.  It was GREAT!!!"

Dane didn't argue this time.  Nor did he mention that I always tell him it was the best game he's ever played. 

In my opinion, this is the whole point of middle school sports.  Teach the boys the basics.  Train them to work as a team - no ball hogs allowed.  Make sure they know how to guard correctly and proper techniques for shooting.  Practice, practice, practice.  Dane's turning into a real decent little basketball player.

Can you tell I'm proud?