Dustin playing basketball

During my “time out” yesterday afternoon and today I had a chance to watch my grandson play in a basketball tournament. It reminded me about my youth playing basketball. In these BEPT (Before Equal Playing Times) only the good basketball players got to play. Now days the coach tries to give each child equal playing time and an opportunity to improve their game. I like that.

Although I never thought of myself as a great basketball player at my grandson’s age, I did feel that being categorized as not a good player at such a young age really deprived me of any chance of developing into a good basketball player. Maybe I would have, maybe not, but at least there would have been the opportunity.

The irony of the situation is that while I played for a Catholic School team coached by one of the associate pastors of the church, grandson goes to a public school and plays with a team from a small town that travels the area playing other teams in tournaments.

The same situation for basketball applies to my grandchildren’s other teams, soccer, baseball and football. Although the teams try to win, more emphasis is placed on developing children’s skill and potential in the sports at such a young age, over winning at any cost.
The story goes that the great Michael Jordan was cut from a basketball team in grade or high school. Obviously he was given another opportunity and went on to be one of the greatest NBA basketball players of all time.

So while in some vital areas, like employment in good jobs, opportunity may have become more limited, at least in the area of children’s sports there is more opportunity. We all need opportunity, a good and healthy environment and some good luck to be all we can be.

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