I've been gone for awhile. There's a few reasons for this:
1) I've been busy. You know, making sure my dog doesn't die; packing my classroom for the move to Portable City during construction; playing Skyrim; and coaching.
Yes,
2) I am coaching again. With me back in action you'd think I'd have a lot to say. After all, coaching was one of three reasons this often neglected blog was created.
But,
3) I've been hesitant to write anything about it. The basketball team. My team in particular (which on most practices doesn't constitute a team since usually four show up). The other coaches. I don't want to say anything about them.
I've been given a second chance. One, at this school, I didn't think I'd get. (And, if you've followed me long enough you'd know I shouldn't have been out of coaching this long.) But, here I am, working with a Rag Tag group that, after only a handful of practices - and even less time working with them alone - have gravitated towards me.
And I to them.
Yet this isn't my cross country team where, over six years, we (maybe) lost two or three dual meets within the Division. This isn't my cross country team where I had State Qualifiers every year, or a team with a chance to go to State on a consistent basis. This isn't my cross country team that sleep walked to a conference title year in and year out. Even the years I wasn't coaching they breezed to conference titles (oh, stop it, those were still my girls.)
I'm treading in uncharted territory where I have a loose understanding for the game of basketball. But I know kids.
And this isn't a cross country team where all practices were predicated by me. All workouts where developed by me. Tapering programs by me. Speed work, tempos, team meetings, me, me, me.
Now I'm just that one guy who's coaching a B-team that, on some days, may not even have a full team. I'm a fixture in the background. Watching. And learning.
And you know what? I'm okay with that.
Starting over isn't easy, though. My reputation - where I had kids simply joining cross country from all walks of school without my having to recruit - is long gone. Only three girls remain who knew me as "Coach Billings". Two play soccer, and one remains my most quiet advocate as a four year Varsity player on basketball.
Tomorrow is my first game. I didn't have an entire summer with this team. Alone, I've had them for maybe an hour total.
If I lose, I can stomach it. At least I know I will have lost with kids who aren't coming to the school for "Academic Reasons" only - they're just kids who are here wanting to play and have fun.
Fun I can do. And in time, win.
1) I've been busy. You know, making sure my dog doesn't die; packing my classroom for the move to Portable City during construction; playing Skyrim; and coaching.
Yes,
2) I am coaching again. With me back in action you'd think I'd have a lot to say. After all, coaching was one of three reasons this often neglected blog was created.
But,
3) I've been hesitant to write anything about it. The basketball team. My team in particular (which on most practices doesn't constitute a team since usually four show up). The other coaches. I don't want to say anything about them.
I've been given a second chance. One, at this school, I didn't think I'd get. (And, if you've followed me long enough you'd know I shouldn't have been out of coaching this long.) But, here I am, working with a Rag Tag group that, after only a handful of practices - and even less time working with them alone - have gravitated towards me.
And I to them.
Yet this isn't my cross country team where, over six years, we (maybe) lost two or three dual meets within the Division. This isn't my cross country team where I had State Qualifiers every year, or a team with a chance to go to State on a consistent basis. This isn't my cross country team that sleep walked to a conference title year in and year out. Even the years I wasn't coaching they breezed to conference titles (oh, stop it, those were still my girls.)
I'm treading in uncharted territory where I have a loose understanding for the game of basketball. But I know kids.
And this isn't a cross country team where all practices were predicated by me. All workouts where developed by me. Tapering programs by me. Speed work, tempos, team meetings, me, me, me.
Now I'm just that one guy who's coaching a B-team that, on some days, may not even have a full team. I'm a fixture in the background. Watching. And learning.
And you know what? I'm okay with that.
Starting over isn't easy, though. My reputation - where I had kids simply joining cross country from all walks of school without my having to recruit - is long gone. Only three girls remain who knew me as "Coach Billings". Two play soccer, and one remains my most quiet advocate as a four year Varsity player on basketball.
Tomorrow is my first game. I didn't have an entire summer with this team. Alone, I've had them for maybe an hour total.
If I lose, I can stomach it. At least I know I will have lost with kids who aren't coming to the school for "Academic Reasons" only - they're just kids who are here wanting to play and have fun.
Fun I can do. And in time, win.
