Basketball

Did you know that Sam played on a basketball team this winter?  That's right, winter.  As in his season ended 9 weeks ago and I am just now writing about it.  Sorry, life happens.

Yes, in a continuing effort to expose Sam to many sporting options before he commits to just a few in which to specialize (of course that sounds rediculous!  He 5! But that's the way the world is turning these days), we signed him up for basketball.  I went with the YMCA league because the season dates lined up with what I was looking for, and I figured they'd be well-organized.  Our experience with the league was mixed: we landed a good coach and the games were well-run, but the practice schedule was awful and they regularly sent us all over the city of Katy for different events.  Although I did like that they made a pledge to God and to each other before the game, I'm not sure if we'll use them again.

How awful was the practice schedule, you ask?  How does Monday evening from 7:00-8:00pm sound?  If your guessing that it kept Sam out of the house after his bed time, you've guessed correctly.  Unfortunately our team drew the short straw and were almost last to select our practice time.  It could have been worse: one team was assigned Friday at 7:00pm.  So I will say that at least Sam was fresh on Monday, but the time slot did not help his ability to focus on the task at hand.  On the upside, this allowed for a lot of discussion around focus, respecting your coach and other character-building elements that are solid reason in and of themselves to sign young children up for organized sports.

The games were pretty cute.  A standard 5-on-5 set up, and each kid wore a wristband in a certain color that corresponded to one worn by an opposing player, the idea being that the pair of matching wristbands would teach man-on-man defense.  The theory worked pretty well, but it was not uncommon to find a confused player still attempting to guard "his guy" while his team was on offense.  There were a few rule modifications as well, most notably the removal of "fast breaks."  When possession changed without a score, the offense paused, held the ball and allowed to other team to run back to defend their basket before the ball was moved down the court.

And did I mention that the baskets were low?  SUPER low.  Sam could just about touch the net when he jumped up.  The YMCA staff hooked special baskets on top of the elementary school baskets that were deemed too high for the kindergarten sect.  I get that, but I think Sam was actually better at shooting at the higher basket, as that is what he was more accustomed to playing on at home.

Sam really did enjoy himself.  His tendency to lose focus both in practice and occasionally during a game didn't bother him nearly as much as it did his father.  As long as he made at least one basket in each game he was happy.  And I'm pretty sure that he did make at least one in every game!  He enjoyed the games most when he had a plethora of opportunities to touch the ball, and extended periods without ball contact were generally what lead to a lack of attention.  This does not surprise me out of a 5 year old boy in general, but especially out of Sam.  Constant engagement is the key with that kid!  I'd say he did pretty well overall, landing himself pretty close to the middle of the pack skill-wise.  

Add another participation award to the collection.  We will revisit basketball sometime next year to see if he is interested again.  I wouldn't be surprised if basketball is relegated to a free time activity in the cul-de-sac, but that'll be for him to decide.  So many sports to try, so little time.