Most people watching from a distance probably think that high school athletics are all fun and games. This perception is held by many fans and observers who have never experienced a full season of competitive athletics. However, those former athletes in the stands know that there are trials and tribulations during every season.
High school athletics are competitive and despite what people say, winning is important. If a student takes an academic test, passing or excelling on that test is important. Nobody wants to fail, or do poorly, but those instances do take place throughout a season.
A few weeks ago, our junior varsity basketball team played very poorly against their opponent. So poorly, that we trailed 6-20 at halftime. Our effort was embarrassing and unacceptable. In the second half, however, our guys played much better and tied the game with just a few minutes remaining in the game.
We try to play each and every player in the junior varsity games. It is a tough balance some nights as we want to be competitive but we also want to reward all of our players who have worked so hard in practice. On this specific night, the same guys who played so poorly in the first half, were the same guys who gave us the best chance to win in the final three minutes of the game.
So what happened? We ended up losing the junior varsity game by three points and three guys didn’t play. Even though the varsity ended up winning their game, I went home to a sleepless night as I didn’t feel good about three young men, who really work hard, not getting to play. As a coach it is a tough balance between participation and competition. Each night brings about its own unique challenges. On some nights certain players don’t play very much, or in this instance, at all. Then on other nights, as a coach, I try my best to make up for that and find opportunities to reward them with more playing time than usual. This happens at both the junior varsity and varsity levels.
I respect each and every guy who plays basketball for our program as our coaches know how much work they have put in to be a part of the team. You want to reward each guy, but on some nights what is best for the team means putting individual desires to the side. This is the part of teamwork that is difficult.
As our season has progressed I have seen many of our young players really improve, not only on the basketball court, but in the classroom and as people. As we learn more about teamwork on the basketball court, we also learn to live a life that serves other people and not just ourselves. Despite some of the trials and tribulations we experience during a season; teamwork is an essential value for all of us to learn.
Mitch Dorr, a Cook County High School Class of 1993 graduate, is now a social studies teacher and coach at his former alma mater. Mitch coaches Vikings football and boys’ basketball. Coach Dorr’s comments do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ISD 166 school board or administration.
Leave a Reply