This weekend was pretty quiet around our house because for one of the few times since October, we did not have a basketball game for either of our daughters, ages 11 and 13. It was a bittersweet feeling at best. My older daughter Sadie has been playing with the same teammates for three and, in some cases, four seasons, the last three on a traveling team from St. Paul Basketball that played in Owatonna, Andover, Fridley, Bloomington, Woodbury, Eden Prairie and more. I helped coach the team with two other dads, Joel Hanson and Mike Johnson.
For the dads, and I suspect for the girls, it was a heck of a ride. It was never about winning although we won our share of games: a league tournament one year, second in the state in our bracket one year, second in the league and fourth (out of 10) in our bracket in the state this year. We also lost our share of games and we got drubbed a few times. No, it was always about having fun, playing hard, playing together, developing friendships and creating great memories that I suspect will last for many years.
Two nights a week for practice and one or two weekend days from October to March is a lot of time to spend together. And while the girls, who were 6th graders when we started the traveling team and are now 8th graders, may have grown weary of the coaches reminding them to play better defense or how to make a better pass, they never seemed to grow tired of each other. They always supported each other and picked each other up, even when the scoreboard said, "What's the point?" When my daughter Sadie sprained her ankle in the state tournament, everyone came over to reassure her and comfort her. One of her teammates called her in the emergency room in between games to find out how she was doing. Although forced to sit on the bench the last two games, Sadie insisted on returning to the tournament from the E.R. to provide moral support. In one game it worked and in the third-place game, it didn't. Her appearance at the games was testimony to how much loyalty these girls have for each other. Any of them would have done the same.
Youth sports are often criticized for over-demanding coaches, winning at all costs, loud parents and kids who are only focused on athletics. That has not been my experience these past three years with our team (nor with the other eight or so teams affiliated with St. Paul Basketball.) I couldn't have asked for two better colleagues than Joel Hanson, who was a star at the University of St. Thomas and actually knows a lot about basketball, or Mike Johnson, who has coached his kids in all manner of rec league sports. Their main focus was always the well-being of the girls and whether they were learning and having fun. The parents were as supportive and respectful as you could ever want. No catcalls to the refs or ugly scenes during or after the games. They taught their kids to respect the coaches and respect the game. As for the girls, basketball was only one part of their busy lives. They are excellent students, acted in or directed plays, performed in band concerts, had confirmations or Bat Mitzvahs during the season, played soccer or were on swim teams in overlapping seasons, and, of course, had busy social lives. But they all came together on the court.
The girls are now onto volleyball or anticipating softball or spring soccer or track. They are waiting to hear what high school they'll be going to next year---at least five or six different ones. I don't know if they'll all be on the same team again. But whatever happens, they, like their dads, will have three wonderful seasons to remember. Thanks to the parents for being so supportive. And thanks, girls, for all the hard work, the fun and the great times.
