Coach Ben

I've been meaning to post about this for a while. Over the past few months, I served as an assistant coach of a 2nd grade girls basketball team. My uncle, Randy, was the head coach. I helped him out at practices once a week, and Jenelle and I both helped at games on Saturday mornings. There was one game when Randy couldn't make it, so Jenelle and I handled the coaching duties ourselves.

There are things that make coaching at this level very easy. For example:
1) There are ten players on the team, and each plays for two quarters, so you don't worry too much about substitutions.
2) Since the kids are still working on the basics of the game, it's pretty easy to give direction and instruction. Even though I am far from a basketball expert, I have enough knowledge to be a decent coach.

On the flip side, there are things that make coaching at this level very difficult.
1) Sometimes the kids can whine and/or complain a bit more during practices and games. "Can I go get a drink?" "We're taking a break in five minutes." "But I'm thirsty now!"
2) For whatever reason, not all of the players are focused on the game. You sometimes have to remind them whether they are on offense or defense. I am pleased to report that our kids never took a shot at the wrong basket, like one of our opponents. Unfortunately for us, they missed.

All things considered, this was a great experience for me. Below is a picture from the warm-ups at the game where Jenelle and I were the only coaches, and also a picture of almost everyone on the team taken after one of our practices.