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It's Only One Possession
It's Only One Possession--- by Jeff Smith
It was only one possession, Why must my coach scream,
My poor defense permitted the basket,
But what can one hoop mean?
As the pass comes my direction, And I fumble it into the stands,
The coach's voice rings
loud and clear, "Catch with your eyes and hands!"
C'mon, coach, it's a single possession, Our team will be okay.
It's
just the first two minutes, My gosh, we've got all day.
At the 10-minute mark I remember, That the center is strong
and stout.
A putback for two, quite simply due, To my failure to turn and block out.
But it was only one possession,
I didn't commit a crime,
My team is ahead and I'm playing well, And there's still plenty of time!
As the halftime
buzzer is sounding, And I watch the ball bank in,
I know that I will hear from my loving coach. Of my questionable effort
to defend.
But it was only one possession, Coach - don't have a heart attack!
We're down by one, but we're having fun,
I know we'll get the lead back!
The second half mirrors the first, But it's early, it's not a big deal.
That
my failure to use a pass fake. Results in an unlikely steal.
But quickly I sink a jumper. I'm greeted by high fives and
slaps,
But next possession I give up a layup. While suffering mental lapse.
But it's only one possession, C'mon, Coach,
chill out.
It's crazy to see you disgusted. As you slap the assistant and shout.
"Victory favors the team making the
fewest mistakes.
Single possessions are the key. So treat them like gold and do as you're told,
And play with intensity."
I
step to the line for one and one, But I have a concentration lapse.
The ball soars through the air - Good Lord, it's a
brick!
I'm afraid the support will collapse. In post game I sit at my locker,
Pondering what more I could do. I realize
the value of each possession,
What a shame that we lost by two. Hall
Food for thought :)
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Your
attitude is showing
Parent's Perspectives...
Attitude in Youth Sports: Parents Set the Tone ("Hey, Mom & Dad, Your Attitude
is Showing!") Darrell J. Burnett, Ph.D. Attitude is defined as "a person's behavior, which indicates his/her thoughts, feelings,
or opinions." In youth sports, you can tell kids' attitudes by watching their behaviors during practice or a game. If they
see the game as a game, with an opportunity to learn skills, compete, increase confidence, and have fun, they're able to go
with the flow, have fun, and relax. Overall, they show a sense of humor and a sense of good sportsmanship. They're able to
learn from their mistakes. However, if they see the game as a pressure-filled event, with winning as the only acceptable outcome,
most of their energies will be spent trying not to make mistakes. If they make mistakes (which is inevitable in youth sports),
they'll use lots of energy making excuses, blaming others, complaining about officials, etc. How do kids develop their attitudes?
As the saying goes, "The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree." As parents, we have to be aware that our behaviors often set
the tone for our kids' attitudes toward youth sports. As adults, we often tend to focus on the "end product", rather than
the "process". When an adult arrives at game's end, and sees the kids coming off the field, what is the first word out of
his/her mouth? It's usually, "Who won?" or "Did you score any goals (get any hits, etc)?" With our emphasis on the end product,
we run the risk of teaching our kids to focus on outcome rather than process (skill improvement). Mistakes are no longer viewed
as opportunities to learn. They are seen as occasions of failure. Research has shown that elite athletes focus on tasks, not
trophies. That is, they focus on the process of their skill development, measuring their progress in terms of frequency, duration,
or intensity. They have an intense desire to win, but most of their energy is spent competing against themselves. Success
in their eyes is measured by progress, not trophy size. As parents, if we're looking to develop a positive attitude in our
kids, we would do well to watch our own behaviors at athletic events. Do we give positive encouragement, or critical judgmental
remarks? Do we show a calm demeanor, or heated overreactions to mistakes? Do we praise participation, or game statistics?
Next time you go to a game, remember, your attitude is showing, and your kids are watching.
Trivia Question
What is 4 the Love of the Game?
ANSWER IS :
x
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