Winners in the Game of Life

To say the very least, the high school at which I work has some significant challenges. Every day ends with me being physically and emotionally exhausted and far too often I walk out of the building deeply discouraged. So when something positive occurs it is vital to my soul to dwell on that rather than the negative. Today’s blog post will pertain to some highly energizing recent experiences. The other day after school I’m at my normal supervision post (west door overlooking the student parking lot) and six boys walked out the door. Nothing exceptional here, right? What made it a highlight was these students were totally at ease, smiling, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. Even better is the group included one Asian, one African-American, two Caucasians, and two Hispanic youths. With all the racial and ethnic hostility in every corner of our society, it was gratifying to see the diverse setting of East High School facilitating the friendships within such an unli...

Loved the Championship Friday format the IAHSAA piloted this year. Nice for a basketball junky to be able to watch all the title games (plus two consolation games) in one sitting. ……………………………………………………………………… I used to be nostalgic about Veterans Memorial Auditorium and was somewhat saddened when it was converted into a convention center, but Wells Fargo is a beautiful, functional, and comfortable venue. It’s also a thrill to play and coach in a big time arena. Good move Des Moines! ……………………………………………………………………… The Association should do everyone a favor and ditch the video from the Farm Bureau. It kills the pre-game vibe and NOBODY is listening to or watching the message.   We all know advertisements are how the bills get paid. Maybe consider playing the video while the kids are warming up. ……………………………………………………………………… It seemed like the public address sound system was turned down during the introductions of the color guard, national anthem singers, and halftime award...

“Laugh a little. And teach your men to laugh. Show good humor under fire. War is a game played with a smile. If you cannot smile, grin. If you cannot grin, then stay out of the way until you can.” Lt. Winston Churchill   Speaking to fellow junior officers during a difficult period of World War I (1916) While certainly not nearly as grim as war, last season for the East High Scarlets boys basketball team was extremely trying. The most important factor which kept us moving on day after day was the enduring character and good spirit of our seniors. Katrell Graham was by far the guy most responsible for us having fun every day. If he had been in Churchill’s battalion, he would have been leading the other men with a healthy dose of humor in the dreary trenches along the Western Front. Every day, regardless of the circumstances, Katrell would be making people smile, occasionally with little jokes, but usually just by being himself. On our team he made both playe...

Saturday I had the distinct pleasure of traveling to the small town of Sully for a basketball scrimmage involving three area high school teams. Getting out of Des Moines and into the countryside was good for the soul. Driving mile after mile past green fields and immaculately cared for farms and acreages was just the prelude for entering the quaint central Iowa town a few miles south of Interstate 80. It’s pretty evident the residents of Sully have considerable community spirit as virtually every home along the main road are in ‘neat as a pin’ condition. And of course being a town in which Dutch ancestry predominates, the yards are uniformly pristine. They even have one of the original style Caseys, unlike the gigantic mega marts which other places have been forced to endure. The highlight of the trip, however, was walking into the gym of Lynnville-Sully High School. This little cracker box is the type of facility in which generations of farm kids and small town boys and girls...

Last week’s post dealt with the topic of positive sports parenting. Within hours of hitting the “publish” button, this video came across my Twitter feed: http://usatodayhss.com/2018/video-massive-brawl-breaks-out-between-parents-at-youth-softball-game Um…folks, this is not good. Then, a couple days later I met a sports parent (thankfully not affiliated with any program with which I am connected!) who can only be described as crazy in an obsessive, compulsive sort of way. So to begin, let’s review some of the key points of what makes a great sports parent. They are moms and dads who encourage rather than coerce, who understand school-based sports programs are meant to be educational, who model sportsmanship, who leave the coaching to coaches, who value everyone on the team, who understand growth emerges from occasional disappointment, who keep sports in perspective, and who promote health, fitness, and fun above all else. Perhaps the key point in ...

Many variables influence the success of high school athletic teams. One of the most significant factors are the parents. Aside from the obvious genetic traits passed along to the youngsters, the individual and collective mindsets of the moms and dads have a profound impact on whether their children's participation in athletics is a positive experience. This blog post will outline some of the characteristics of positive sports parenting. Great parents encourage   Being a teenager is tough. The difficult period between being a child and adult inflicts a heavy toll on emotional wellbeing. Kids’ identities are evolving, social relationships can be unstable, roles and expectations frequently create strain or even conflict. Sports should not become just another source of angst for those who participate. Make sure your son or daughter knows your love and approval is not contingent on their performance. Few people would admit to doing this on a conscious level, however in s...

One of the prevailing values of the American culture has been our work ethic. Pretty much every person who has risen to the top in any field has had the value of work imbedded deeply into their character. A young man who I admire deeply wears his work ethic as a badge of honor. East High Scarlets basketball player and member of the graduating class of 2018 Osdy Villegas will not let you out work him. Coaches frequently sing the praises of their players, almost habitually saying this or that player is a hard worker. But in the case of Osdy, this compliment is quite literal. A basketball season is a grind. We practice or play six days a week. The workouts are always exhausting. The competition we faced was brutal. Osdy was always there for us day in, day out. But this is only a small part of the story. In addition to meeting and exceeding the high expectations which are normal for a varsity basketball player, Osdy took it a big step further. You see after a full...