By Mary-Lane Kamberg<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I love basketball. And I\u2019ve spent years watching the game. First as a Kansas Jayhawks fan, then as a basketball mom, then a basketball grandmother, and finally cheering as my daughter Johanna coached a high school team. So, when my grandson Ronin wanted to play fifth grade, summer league basketball, I signed him up as a free agent with our local league. That meant any coach could pick him up for a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The league coordinator emailed parents of all the leftover kids. \u201cWe have seven free agents,\u201d she said. \u201cEnough for a team. If we can find a coach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I waited for replies from the other boys\u2019 parents. No one volunteered. I\u2019d do it if I knew how,I thought. I had experience as a swimming coach. Maybe I could use those skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ronin really wanted to play, and I thought, how hard can it be?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I emailed the league coordinator. \u201cI\u2019ve never coached basketball, but I\u2019ll sit on the bench. And I\u2019ll try to find someone to help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hoped that someone would be Johanna. She\u2019d played varsity ball and had years of coaching experience. She shook her head. \u201cMy summer is way too busy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I asked my husband. A flat no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I racked my brain trying to think of someone. If I ended up being the only coach, I would have to count on the players to run and shoot on their own and hope for the best. At least they\u2019d be on a court handling the ball. Nothing was at stake, except possibly my embarrassment. I was willing to risk it for Ronin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I thought of Johanna\u2019s former high school coach, Steve. He\u2019d retired several years before. But asking him was like asking Albert Einstein to judge an elementary school science fair. Steve had been National High School Girls Basketball Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was reluctant, but Ronin needed a coach. I texted Steve. \u201cWill you please coach my grandson\u2019s summer team? Just six games. No practices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a while, he replied. \u201cI\u2019ll be your assistant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That made me head-coach-in-name-only. I was thrilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I texted Johanna the news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m mortified that you did that!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I drove by Ronin\u2019s house, where he was shooting baskets in the driveway. \u201cI\u2019m your new head basketball coach!\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His eyes widened. \u201cI know more about basketball than you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know.\u201d I told him about Steve. \u201cYou\u2019ll love him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I soon learned that head coaches must make sacrifices. I added the team schedule to my calendar. The first game fell on the same day my sister and I had tickets to a Kansas City Royals game. I texted her. \u201cI can\u2019t go. I\u2019m Ronin\u2019s head basketball coach and we have a game that day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHa, ha. Good one,\u201d she texted back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our family plays lots of practical jokes, and I had to send her the link to my team\u2019s page on the league website before she believed me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I dressed for the first game, I couldn\u2019t remember what coaches typically wore. I chose a blue shirt that matched our team color. I hoped that wasn\u2019t weird. All the way to the gym, my stomach fluttered. I arrived early and paced while I waited for Steven and the team. Steve walked in wearing a blue shirt. Got it! I thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Steve ran warmup. I shook hands with the opposing coach and turned in my player list. I looked at the bench. Where should I sit? Head coaches usually sit in the first chair, with the assistant in the second. Despite my official title, Steve belonged in the first one. I sat in the second. He stood the entire game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Steve spelled out my job. \u201cWatch the clock and send in subs at five-minute intervals. We have three \u201cBig\u201d and four \u201cperimeter (Little)\u201d players. Keep two Bigs and three Littles on the court at all times. Bigs rotate for Bigs. Littles for Littles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During timeouts, Steve sketched out plays on an erasable clipboard. I stood in the circle with the boys and nodded as if I understood. I cheered for our boys during the game and chatted with the ones sitting out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood defense on that last play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNice three-pointer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou do a good job of guarding with your feet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I did my best to watch Ronin as he ran down the court for long passes and shot the ball. But I also watched the clock religiously. Everything went according to plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Until.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our best Big committed too many fouls, so Steve temporarily pulled him out to save him for later in the game. Steve looked at me. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you when he can come back in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had to improvise. I kept forgetting who were Bigs and who were Littles. Sometimes I had too many Bigs on the floor. At others, too many Littles. My breathing turned quick and shallow as I tried to hold it all together. Between watching the game clock and deciding who to sub in, I missed the rest of the game. We were ahead at the buzzer. I caught my breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the game, I slapped hands with the other team\u2019s players like a pro. I\u2019d always liked the sportsmanship of teams congratulating each other, but I had no idea how sweaty little boys\u2019 hands could be. It was kind of icky. But I did it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the weeks progressed, we won some games and lost some. And I gained enormous appreciation not only for Steve, but also for every coach of every sport my children and their children ever played. At the end of the season, I was proud of myself for standing up and trying something new. I enjoyed my stint as Ronin\u2019s coach, but I realized I don\u2019t know much about coaching basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I still love the game. But from now on, I\u2019ll be cheering from the stands.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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