Play Ball

 We moved back to Illinois to have the opportunity to spend more time with our children and granddaughters. One of our granddaughters, Audrey is very involved in sports. Due to the pandemic the sports seasons are confused and overlapping. Right now it is softball and basket seasons. Last Saturday it was softball in Knoxville. Last night, Thursday and Friday it is basketball in Rushville. Saturday and Sunday it will be softball in Burlington. I’ve gotten old and kids sports for me is not about winning and losing or at least not about win loss records. It’s about having fun. Learning how to be a part of a team. Part of something greater than each player as an individual. It’s about learning to win without being a jerk and how to accept defeat as an opportunity to grow. 

It’s a little tough to pinpoint Audrey’s job on the team. When they inbound the ball if she is in the game that is her assignment. Get the ball in to an open player. She does that very well. Her other job is defending the other team’s biggest player. She isn’t afraid to put her body up on anyone and work to deny them the ball. If they can’t receive the pass they can’t shoot.  So there are other girls who shoot baskets and score points. Audrey does the grunt work that wins games. 

Sunday was Easter and Audrey’s Uncle Beau is her coach. So she got some hitting practice in our yard. You can’t improve if you don’t work.

Audrey plays for Beau not because he is her uncle, She plays for him because he takes the time to teach them the game and he makes the entire experience fun. That’s what great coaches and great parents do