Post Game Show

Sorry it has taken so long for a post about the games, things have been semi busy, but such is life. First off, let me get the best part out of the way. The team got third and the guys were so happy and proud of themselves. The sense of accomplishment that they were showing when they got those ribbons made it all worth it. I was pretty nervous about how everything would go down, but it ended well. A few things happened that were less than optimal, but we qualified for the state games and that was the goal.

We got the gym at 10 and went back to change. The guys were so pumped because they were able to wear some actual Stillwater School basketball uniforms and they looked great in them. They really felt pride in the fact that they were the only team there with uniforms that showed what school they represented. Just them getting to wear those would have made the whole trip worth it the way they strutted around. We barely made it to the courts to put up our stuff when we got called onto the floor to play a team from Southern Oklahoma City. We were caught off guard because we thought we had more time to get ready and warm up, but apparently they had already played two games and it was our turn. The OKC team was really not supposed to be in our braket because they were older and higher skill level, but since they were the only team there for that braket, they ended up with us. The guys played hard, but we were outmatched and got beat pretty badly for the first game. I was under the impression that the games were 30 minutes or first to 15, but apparently they changed the rules and it was a 10 minute game. I was rotating players so they could all play and before I knew it, the game was over and we were beat soundly.

Some of the guys were really upset after that game because we are a better team than that and we did not have time to warm up and get ready. We got sit out a game before our next one, so I got with Amanda and worked out who we would play the next game because we had to win it to keep playing. We did the pep talk and what not to get em ready and when the game started they were ready. We beat that team soundly and moved on to play the exact same OKC team that beat us the first time. The second time around we played a lot better and only lost 7 to 4. The guys played hard and gave all they had, which is all that I could ask for. After the game was over, though they lost again, they felt much better about themselves and some even wanted to play that same team one more time so they could beat them this time! It was great to see them rise up and just want to keep going because they improved and showed themselves that they could play better and better.

After we got back to the high school and everyone was getting off the bus, all the guys told me things like "See ya coach" and "Thanks coach" which really touched me. Just the fact that everyone of them called me coach and they were so happy and enthusiastic as they got off the bus and were ready to practice some more for state was awesome. It really left me humbled and proud of them. I am really looking forward to the next practice so that we can work and get ready to really play well at state.

One of the best parts about the whole day was something that caught me totally off guard. Right after the first game was over and we were preparing our lineup and pep talking the boys, I turned and saw my dad standing there. I was speechless. I know that Amanda had invited both him and mom to come up, but last I had heard, both of them were busy, and it was such a long drive for a couple of games. Amanda had kept it a total suprise that he was coming up, which amazes me because she is usually terrible at keeping secrets. It meant so much to me that he was there for my "first" coaching gig. I grew up watching him coach so many teams that to have the roles reversed and he be watching me was very fullfilling. I was so happy to have him there. Mom, I wish you had been there to see it also. I hope you can make it for the state games, I really look forward to you seeing the team in action.

Overall, it was a rewarding experience and it proved to me that this is what I really want to do. I want to be a coach because of experiences like this one.

Yup another long post, if I keep this up it will be a habit.

Trevor

New Addition

Just a quick update on how things are going with the team. We just got a new member today which brings our total up to 6 players in all. This kid is great, he is taller than me and for a lack of a better term, is a beast. He can shoot very well, is a rebounding machine, and can dribble well. With him working the post area, unless the other team has their own beast-like player, he will suck up every ball that comes his way and be hard to shoot over if someone comes down low.

Amanda and I both came away super excited today. Sadly, we only were able to practice for about 30 minutes today, so we were not able to get a whole lot done. We did get around 5 minutes of live playing going and it went fairly well. We only had 5 kids there this morning, so to play 3 on 3 I had to dust off the shoes and step in for a bit. I can at least say that I have not lost to much of my skill, but then I did not have a ton of skill to begin with so I am not sure where that puts me. The guys played well and were really moving around well. I implemented a few plays on Monday that we worked on for a while and when we started playing today, those plays went right out the door. Good news is that the kids are great at improvising and moving around, so I will have to modify some things and build on that strength.

We are really going to have to practice hard tomorrow and work out some player rotations for Thursday's games. Getting nervous for the games that day, not really for me, but for the boys. I want them to do well, enjoy themselves, and have a better experience than they did last year. Winning would be nice, but as long as they give it their all and have fun, that is all that matters.

So much for a quick post . . . oh well, better luck next time.

Trevor

Starting Out

I just recently started my first coaching "job" working with the Stillwater High School special education kids. I will be working with the varsity boys on their 3 on 3 team. It will be a real challenge for multiple reasons. The first and biggest reason is that I have never coached before.I grew up around sports and my father was a coach, so I had plenty of time to see how a coach acts. Knowing how one acts and actually being one are two completely different things. The second reason is the actual kids I will be working with. Special Needs kids is a group that I have not worked with much, but since Amanda and I moved to Stillwater, I have become more active in due to Amanda working with them. To be honest, I never really had an interest in special needs at all, but after Amanda and I went to the state Special Olympics and I saw how much fun the kids were having and how much it meant to them, it really sparked an interest in me. Afterwards Amanda and I both said we wanted to become more active.

Which brings us to the present and my first coaching job. I am really excited about getting the chance to work with a group of kids that just want to play a sport and be like "normal" kids. Last year the team did not really have a coach and they boys did not have much direction. I was told that they mainly just did what they wanted and one of the higher function kids told the others what to do. They did not win any games and had a lot of difficulty competing against the other kids who did have a coach to help them. The lady that works with all the special needs kids in the Stillwater school system really talked me up to the kids and she is the one that brought me in to coach them, so I would like to thank the school special olympics coordinator twice over. Thanks for giving me this chance and thanks for also talking me up so much to the kids that they are so excited just to have me there. It is great to see them every morning just light up when I walk into the room to get them and head to the gym for practice. It is great knowing that I get to have that kind of enthusiam from kids that are just happy to have someone work with them.

I am really looking forward to my first coaching job and the challenges it will bring. It is going to be a great experience and I cannot wait to really get it going.

I swear the next post will be shorter, not trying to write a book or anything here, but those of you that know me well know that when I get to talking, sometimes I do not shut up. See? I even made that sentence way longer than it needed to be. . .