Jamie has been coaching grade 8 basketball for 9 years. It is something that he truly is great at and brings him joy. When he first started coaching I knew hardly anything about the game. I learned with each game and season. After each game I would ask a million questions to better understand the game, what he did, why he did it as a coach. Nine years ago I decided that I would do everything I could to encourage him, and be apart of the bball season along with him. The reason for this was two-fold: I knew that coaching would be apart of his life forever and if I ever wanted to see him I would have to spent lots of time in the gym, and the team that he coaches does not have a lot of parents participation for several reasons so I knew that those boys needed a fan in the stands. I donned myself as the surrogate parent for each of those boys and I made a promise that they would always have someone in that stands cheering them on when their parents couldn't be there.
Nine years later and two boys later we are still in the stands cheering on the Huskies. The boys love going to the bball games to cheer on the boys (and their dad). We come with a bag full of snacks and settle in. We have truly raised gym rats. They love the gym and if they are anything like their daddy they will some day feel the most comfortable in a gym. It has been truly amazing to watch our boys learn how to play bball through purely watching it be done in a gym. After each game the boys come home and immediately start playing bball (we have a hoop in their toy room). We have never really taught Aidan or Jaxon how to shoot, dribble, pass and/or shoot layups. It has become a natural progression from just watching and learning. It is true testament to the fact that our children learn from their environment and watching those around them.
This bball season has been no different. We have sat in the stands, gotten to know and become friends with the parents that can come, cheered our Huskies on, learned more about the game, watched Jamie transform his boys from ok players to great players, seen his boys go from liking the game to loving it, falling in love with the game ourselves, and now look forward to next year's season where we will do it all over again.
This bball season has been no different. We have sat in the stands, gotten to know and become friends with the parents that can come, cheered our Huskies on, learned more about the game, watched Jamie transform his boys from ok players to great players, seen his boys go from liking the game to loving it, falling in love with the game ourselves, and now look forward to next year's season where we will do it all over again.
3 comments:
Jamie is an amazing coach and you are an awesome superfan! You make a great team!
Hey! We took the boys to their first live game last night, and they loved it!! We may have to join you next year!
Megan, I can relate to so much that you wrote! (although this was only my first full year of basketball during marriage. He was coaching while we were dating, but TOCing last year). I try to go to as many games as I can so that I can be part of Malcolm's life. Isn't is amazing to see your husbands gifts in action? I love watching Malcolm coach, and there really is a unique role for us as the wives to support the coach, players, families, etc... Way to go Megan. I envision my life in the gym for years and years to come as well!
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