How one coach inspired his athletes
This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/POWERADE.
Mr. Serious started playing basketball at at young age. He continued through high school and college. As somebody that never recalls participating in team sports, I asked Mr. Serious to tell about some one that inspired him as an athlete. I knew who he would write about without even asking!
I’ve have been involved in some kind of team sport for most of my life. I’ve done baseball, football, swimming and soccer. But, my favorite sport has always been basketball.
In my time playing basketball, I’ve had a lot coaches, but my most memorable is my Junior Varsity High School basketball coach. He is a no nonsense and no excuses type of coach who always pushed you to your limit physically and mentally, because when you’re about to fall over dead tired there isn’t a lot of brain function left.
He taught me about personal pride, teamwork, the value of preparation, how to support a teammate and how to shoot a layup over a angrily waved broom (that was a drill). For those of you who have played a team sport or played basketball, you might be thinking, “that makes sense” or “I had a coach like that.” Here’s a story that sticks out for me.
It was practice before the basketball season started of my junior year. I jump in the air, hit a guys shoulder (yeah, I was high up there) and come down hard on my right wrist, breaking it. It hurt, but the toughest part was that I couldn’t play. I had to keep the cast on for four weeks and I wasn’t sure I would be able to play that season.
After I came back to school with my cast on, I remember not dressing out for practice and my coach pulled me aside and gave me some great advice.
He told me to dress out for the next practice and do everything with the team that I possibly could; Be in the huddles, in the running drills, in the no contact defensive drills, lift weights (with my good arm) and be involved in every part of the team. He said that if I didn’t, then I would not be ready to play when my wrist healed. Boy was he right. I ran sprints, dove on the floor during drills, encouraged my teammates and lifted weights.
Needless to say, my cast was horribly stinky. But, my wrist healed, I played my best basketball of my life that season and we won the district championship. I never would have given that effort without the encouragement of my coach.
The great appeal of team sports is that they are a great metaphor for life. You have limited time, you have to work with people (your teammates), compete against others (your opponent) and effort and attitude can overcome your lack of talent.
Who has inspired you? Who have you inspired? Who will you inspire next?
The POWERADE “Just A Kid” Campaign wants to remind us There is potential in all of us. No matter what you achieve in life, you start in the same place as everyone else: as a kid full of potential and big dreams. At the end of the day, we are all “just a kid” from somewhere. POWERADE believes that with the right motivation these everyday athletes can realize their potential and one day be the athletes that they look up to. Sports have a major impact on our communities. Whether it is t-ball or the pros, every athlete in every league has a story waiting to be told.
Represent your somewhere with custom “Just a Kid” apparel that features where you’re from here. All net proceeds from the sale of “Just a Kid” apparel goes to the Boys & Girls Club of America. Y
ou can get a free POWERADE custom sports bottle until April 4, 2016 or while supplies last when you purchase two 8-packs of 20 oz POWERADE at Walmart, go online, submit your receipt, and order a free custom “Just a Kid” reusable sports bottle.
