C'mon Coach!

The all-star players for 4th graders have been selected and by March 2007, the teams are preparing to play in regional play. My son's coach ask me to to be an assistant coach. I initially refuse because I like to sit in the stands and monitor my son's game and give him pointers later. I now it sounds selfish but I focus on improving my 4th and 5th grader sons at that time.

So we began regional play in some small town near Freeport, Texas and the coach starts his two sons. Granted, both sons are slow and not very athletic. But we have another kid on the bench who is very athletic and much better than either of his sons. Anyway, by halftime the score is a two point difference and his son is handling the point guard position. The coach goes into the locker room and expresses anger because the score is so close. I'm standing trying to keep my mouth without stating the obvious. Ah coach! get your son out of the point guard position and we will blow this team out. But I must admit, being the ass't coach does have it's advantages, I'm right there with my son (smile). Yep, my son is best player and the most athletic on the team. This is where father's like me can be caught in the middle of things. My son is the real deal within his age group. He actually is good enough to play with older boys and handle his own business.

Anyway, I tell my son to start grabbing rebounds and play the point. I know my son. He likes to pass the ball and will hit the open teammate when he's open. So now the team know this. So guess what happens now? His teammates begin to move and not stand around, because they know if they get open, my son will hit them with a pass to shoot the ball. Anyway, we blow the team out the second half. Pretty much the same scenario continues throughout the regional. But we win the regional and on to nationals out in west Texas.