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A BUMPER
sticker caught my attention the other day. It said
“Lord, grant me patience now.” One would laugh at first
at the message but later realize that patience is very
hard to aspire for nowadays.
Taken in
the context of learning basketball, patience is one the
many virtues needed to grow in this sport. Although one
might think basketball is way too easy, competitive
basketball requires a lot more hard work and, you’ve
guessed it, patience.
It is
quite understandable if patience might be in short
supply in today’s world. It’s mainly a results-oriented,
success-driven society where overnight success is urged.
Yet,
certain skills in the game of basketball and the
formation of a competitive basketball team or program
require time for preparation. For a person learning
basketball, it is not merely learning to play but to
understand why the game is played as it should be.
What may
seem as the collection of moves is given more meaning
when one learns why such can’t be done in another way or
why such skill is much more effective than the other.
That’s why teaching basketball is broken into several
parts. Some call it easy-to-bite parts.
This
might be taxing for a person who’s in a hurry but this
is most important. The dissection of these skills into
small parts would allow a student to appreciate each
part and learn each part thoroughly.
It might
be easy just to compete in playground basketball, but
without the necessary skills, a player might be wanting
as he goes up the caging ladder.
In other
words, to play above the rim, be quick and athletic are
impressive but without the thorough learning of the
basics and practicing them often to the point of
mastery.
I’ve
read somewhere that it would take 30 days for a person
to learn a new skill thoroughly, like the case of
driving. Basketball, if one is serious, needs more time
and practice.
There
are times when learning is not progressing as what is
desired, the tendency is to get frustrated or worse, to
quit altogether. Hence, encouragement is needed.
It is
also important for both parents and instructors to be
patient in teaching a child. It takes even more patience
when a student is not learning the skills at the pace
that is suggested.
****
THIS
week’s query comes from Elmer S. of Bacolod , Negros
Occidental who wrote:
Coach
E,
I am
very impressed with your
Coach
E Basketball
School.
My relatives in Manila say that most kids they know
learned a lot from it and the teaching is very
effective. Is there a chance that Coach E could also
spread in our province?
Dear
Elmer,
Thank
you for the flattering letter. I will do my best to
spread the Coach E system, perhaps through the transfer
of technology through local coaches. But hopefully, the
school would be able to reach that far south in the near
future. Many thanks!
Coach E |
