There’s nothing like the sound of the echoing of balls bouncing, and shoes squeaking on the hardwood floor of a gym. For me this was a very familiar place and sound of the many years playing the sport I love, the game of basketball. This time I wasn’t the one playing, I was coaching. Last fall I was asked by my high school varsity coach if I would help out coaching the freshmen team. My first initial thought was no, but I told him that I would think about it and get back to him as soon as possible. The more I thought about it I began to like the idea of helping these kids out, so I got back to him and let him know that I was all in. So it was official, I was the assistant coach for the NorthPointe Christian freshmen team. Never in a million years did I think I was going to be there, yet there I was. Though I wasn’t playing at the time I
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Jake was over on the far side of the gym shooting on one of the side rims. After coach was done talking in the huddle I walked over to Jake and introduced my self to him. I said “Hey Jake, Im coach Baker, how are you?” Jake looked at me with a big smile and said “Come rebound for me”. So while the rest of the team was working on defense, me and Jake worked together on the side rim, and to my surprise, Jake had a pretty good shot! This became a daily routine. The first half of practice I would work with coach and the rest of the boys of offense and defense, and the second half I would devote my time to helping Jake. I helped Jake learn to dribble with his head up, and how to shoot the ball with the proper form from about 5 feet or so from the basket. We had so much fun. There were many days where I came to practice in a bad mood, and the moment I would see Jake and hear him say “Hey Zach, come help me shoot” it would completely change my mood! Jake always had the biggest smile on his face and an awesome attitude, and we began to build a bond that would change who I
Jake was over on the far side of the gym shooting on one of the side rims. After coach was done talking in the huddle I walked over to Jake and introduced my self to him. I said “Hey Jake, Im coach Baker, how are you?” Jake looked at me with a big smile and said “Come rebound for me”. So while the rest of the team was working on defense, me and Jake worked together on the side rim, and to my surprise, Jake had a pretty good shot! This became a daily routine. The first half of practice I would work with coach and the rest of the boys of offense and defense, and the second half I would devote my time to helping Jake. I helped Jake learn to dribble with his head up, and how to shoot the ball with the proper form from about 5 feet or so from the basket. We had so much fun. There were many days where I came to practice in a bad mood, and the moment I would see Jake and hear him say “Hey Zach, come help me shoot” it would completely change my mood! Jake always had the biggest smile on his face and an awesome attitude, and we began to build a bond that would change who I