3 Big Reasons Getting Cheap Shots is a Good Thing
My daughter Grace played a game yesterday evening during the May exposure period. Over 30 college coaches lined the sidelines to watch the players on both teams. The pressure on these young ladies must be tremendous. Grace started the game off with a scoring flurry. She scored 9 of the team’s first 14 points resulting in the opposing team’s coach calling a time out. As a Youth Basketball Parent, I was delighted with my daughter’s performance. After the time out, a new player started to guard my daughter. This new player was grabbing at her jersey and holding her as she was trying to move and cut. Also, as my daughter ran back on offense, the opposing player would look for Grace to look up and then stop suddenly in front of her to try to get her to trip or run into her. The referees either did not see these actions or did not care. I love when this behavior occurs because I can have an excellent teaching opportunity with my daughter.
1. Life is not fair. Wear a helmet.
In today’s world, parents try to shield their children from adversity. While I am always present for my children, I work very hard to make them aware of the realities of the world. I have tried to teach my daughters that life is not fair. Everyone is not treated fairly. My biggest lesson is do not expect the world to be fair and honest because it never will be. Be prepared and very aware that you will face many challenges in your life. I tell my kids to look forward to them because it has been my experience that some of the most significant periods of growth and the best and most successful times grow out of these moments.
2. Poise in Conflict — Choose your Response Carefully
Last summer, my daughter Grace was playing in a tournament in Chicago. The game was getting very physical. She found herself trying to stand her ground in the post, and the girl defending her hauled off and elbowed her very hard in the chest. I held my breath for a moment and waited for her response. I was amazed. She did nothing but continue to try to improve her position in the post. She did not ever give her a dirty look. After the game, I asked her why she did not get in her face or try to retaliate. She told me that the referee would likely see her, and she would get a technical foul. She told me she was more interested in winning the game than dealing with that nonsense. She did not learn that from me. In my playing days, that defender would catch a flying elbow sometime later in the game.
Character is revealed in the reaction a person has to adverse circumstances. We all hope to “turn the other cheek” and maintain the focus on the end goal. Situations that occur during the game of basketball translate so perfectly to problems that will arise in a young player’s adult life. Look for these types of opportunities to set your child on the right path.
3. Validation of Talent
I cannot remember the television show or movie where I heard the line, “If they are shooting at you, you must be doing something right.” Cheap shots usually occur when the other team’s player is getting beat. Frustration takes over, and the other player starts to hold the player they are guarding, and then, in some situations, they may take the cheap shot. Many times the player that takes the brunt of this treatment is the player that is having the most success on the court.
I often love to watch Steph Curry as he moves without the ball in an NBA game. He is usually held, bumped, and pushed as he tries to move to get open. In a funny way, this is a sign of respect for the talent that he has. This also happens in the business world. I have heard of and seen many situations of business associates attempting to undercut their fellow employees performing better than them. Teach your child to take this unfortunate treatment as an odd kind of respect. advise them to “keep their head on a swivel” and learn to look for threats within and outside the rules.
Conclusion
We as parents hate to see cheap shots happen during any athletic competition. I urge you to keep cool on the sidelines and try to see it as an opportunity to educate your child on a constant theme that they will experience during their life. I hope you enjoyed this article. If you did, please consider subscribing to my blog by visiting www.youthbasketballparent.com.