I played basketball with a group of high school girls at open gym this week. A great workout for me, and whether they liked it or not (between my huffing and puffing) the girls got some coaching. Not super serious coaching, more encouragement and reminders, but I just couldn’t help myself. Once a coach always a coach.
“Nice look.” “Sweet Pass.” “Stay between your man and the basket.”
I’d set a screen away and make them think about movement away from the ball. Remind them, and myself, to stay low, jump to the ball, block out. As much as I don’t like getting old and being a little out of shape, not being able to do what I wanted to do, exactly when I wanted to do it, emphasized for me how important patience is, as a player and as a coach, because it’s not always easy to do things right.
There is a lot to learn on the basketball court. You have to move the ball up the court by dribbling and passing and run different offenses and defenses. It takes tons of practice to get it right on a regular basis and even with practice, with the repetition and reminders of how the game is played, mistakes happen.
So if you are frustrated with your play on the basketball court (or with your writing, or your production at work, or your ability to stay in a yoga pose, or anything in life) remind yourself to be patient. If you are a coach and you’re not happy with how your team is doing, assess the weak points of the team and make sure your drills work to strengthen those weakness, but understand that it will take time and remind yourself that your players and your team will never be perfect.
Be patient.
No matter how hard a person or a team works, the game is ever-changing, life is ever-changing, and because of that, on the court, and in life, remember to be patient with those around you and be patient with yourself.
