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https://freedium.cfd/https://medium.com/on-reflection/why-its-a-tragedy-that-adults-rarely-model-accountability-in-the-usa-79e2be5d44dd>
'I like to help coach my daughter's basketball team. This is the third year,
and it's been delightful to get to know the kids. Sometimes they seek me out.
They come and stand beside me, look up, and smile and I say, "Good job."
I often wonder how many of them don't have a father figure in their lives to
offer them a word of approval. A simple phrase like, "You sure played well
today," is something that might provide spiritual nourishment for these kids
for a long time.
The other coaches all played on high school and college teams, but not me. The
only experience I have in basketball comes from playing street games in Peru.
There was a team organized at the school where I used to work, and we'd
ocasionally participate in tournaments and whatnot.
They recruited me because I was comparatively tall. The truth is that I'm a
hair under six feet, but that's considered tall in Peru. I discovered
basketball is a lot more fun when you're the tallest guy on the court.
Everything was great until we showed up at the tournaments to face a bunch of
guys who were much bigger than me.
So, I have experience with basketball, but not with all the practice drills
that are common to teams. With the girls on my daughter's team I emphasize
basic things like decision making and how to box out. I feel my perspective is
useful because I'm not saddled with an expectation of what a team is "supposed"
to look like. Instead, I see places that can be improved and I explain it to
the kids. What I lack in knowledge I make up for in my ability to communicate.
Sometimes I translate what the coach says into language the kids can
understand. Plus, I always encourage them and tell them they're doing well,
maybe that's why they like me.
It's a joy, it really is.'
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
