This was my son's first year at a new High School and his first time to step up to school basketball. He had always played youth league and was almost always in the game.
Just before the season, he wanted to quit. He wasn't getting much attention in practice he was struggling to adjust to a growth spurt (He shot up to 6'1" at 14) and he wasn't dealing well with the running and conditioning. I talked to the head coach, who said he didn't want him to quit and wouldn't allow it unless I said so. I told my son he had to finish the season. If he didn't want to play next year, that was fine, but he was going to finish what he started.
His team lost their first 2 games and he never left the bench. He was accustomed to playing almost the whole game and it was killing him to not get a chance. I told him to keep working hard in practice and good things would happen. Inside, my heart was breaking for him, because I know how very much he loves basketball and how hard he has worked all of his life, but I couldn't let him quit.
In the third game, he got some playing time. He was shaky at first, but settled down and played well, rebounding and scored inside. I could see his confidence coming back.
To condense this long and bragging post, he has played more and more scoring in every game, rebounding, playing good defense and has made several big plays! Last night, versus Central-Tuscaloosa, he played more than the starting center and again had a solid game. As a matter of fact, he's shooting 100% from the field this season.
I'm so proud of him that I can hardly stand it! Not of his playing time, but because he's stuck it out and continued to work through adversity. IMO, this is the real benefit of high school sports. He's learned something about hard work, role playing, and perserverence. He'll soon be enjoying the success that he's accustom to and he's learned life lessons along the way. What more can you ask from a school experience?
Just before the season, he wanted to quit. He wasn't getting much attention in practice he was struggling to adjust to a growth spurt (He shot up to 6'1" at 14) and he wasn't dealing well with the running and conditioning. I talked to the head coach, who said he didn't want him to quit and wouldn't allow it unless I said so. I told my son he had to finish the season. If he didn't want to play next year, that was fine, but he was going to finish what he started.
His team lost their first 2 games and he never left the bench. He was accustomed to playing almost the whole game and it was killing him to not get a chance. I told him to keep working hard in practice and good things would happen. Inside, my heart was breaking for him, because I know how very much he loves basketball and how hard he has worked all of his life, but I couldn't let him quit.
In the third game, he got some playing time. He was shaky at first, but settled down and played well, rebounding and scored inside. I could see his confidence coming back.
To condense this long and bragging post, he has played more and more scoring in every game, rebounding, playing good defense and has made several big plays! Last night, versus Central-Tuscaloosa, he played more than the starting center and again had a solid game. As a matter of fact, he's shooting 100% from the field this season.
I'm so proud of him that I can hardly stand it! Not of his playing time, but because he's stuck it out and continued to work through adversity. IMO, this is the real benefit of high school sports. He's learned something about hard work, role playing, and perserverence. He'll soon be enjoying the success that he's accustom to and he's learned life lessons along the way. What more can you ask from a school experience?
