The Ultimate Hoops

The kindest way to describe “Newy’s” basketball skills is to say s/he didn’t have any.  Newy isn’t part of the “group”.

Sadly this makes Newy a misfit in Erin Hoops, but if Newy wants to play basketball what is Hoops to do.

Newy didn’t use to be a problem.  We used to have so many misfits, i.e., people who couldn’t play basketball if their life depended on it, that Newy use to fit right in.

That’s no longer true.  Hoops has raised the standard of basketball played in our Community right across the board, from kids of 6 to kids of sixty, basketball is played better every year. 

How so? 

Why Kid are teaching Kids.  People are teaching people.  Skills are shared with friends who aren’t in Hoops.  Games are played with Kids/People naturally coaching each other.  Everyone wants to play her/his best.  So learning basketball goes on everywhere.

But every once in a while a Newy comes along who has been isolated.  Who has not played ball before.  Who has no “peer” to have helped her/him get the basics that exist now in this Community’s basketball in their age group.  (Sometimes Newy even lacks any athleticism, but still want to play.)

What to do...you might say move Newy down an age group or two, so Newy is playing at her/his skill level.  You can’t do this.  It will end Newy’s interest.  Newy must be fit in to Newy’s own age group.  Yes this jeopardizes Newy.

Newy will feel incompetent.  Newy will stick out like a sore thumb.  Newy will be destroyed both mentally and physically by her/his total incompetence.  Even if the Newy’s fellow players do not comment, scoff, or react to Newy’s destruction of “their” game, Newy will feel it.  Newy will most likely quit.  Discouraged, demeaned, and with a significant loss of self-image and self esteem.

Awe what to do...

Newy must feel treasured, acceptable, capable, hopeful.

Newy must somehow be included.  Made to bloom.

To do this requires a culture where parents, coaches, players all care for each other.

Everyone has a stake in:

Helping Newy develop individually,

Coddling Newy with total discretion,

Including Newy in the flow of the game,

Treating Newy specially

Worrying about keeping/preserving Newy in Hoops,

Teaching/coaching Newy,

Protecting Newy’s self image constantly,

Sharing with Newy,

Hoping for Newy,

Encouraging Newy,

Cheering with and for Newy...

The list of humanness goes on and on...

“Half” defenses are played.

“No” defenses are used.

Special passes are made...

Newy scores daily in our games, even though it is hard sometimes to forgive the competitiveness in a game to enhance, encourage, respect and help a fellow player.

Defenses change.  Our level of focus changes.  Newy changes.

It is hard work for all of us...and if we do it well Newy grows and becomes a living part of us/Hoops who love the game of basketball, and who gain in personal strength as we become bigger than we were.

As I wrote this I am thinking of three, no four, Newys in Hoops this year alone.  Kids/people who have significantly and demonstratively grown beyond anything one would normally expect. 

Maybe that’s what basketball - and life is all about.

Patrick Suessmuth

Erin Hoops