Coach Ed

Untitled from David Schmidgall on Vimeo.
Kate and I arrived in Chicago to a frigid -5 degrees. I went to watch my Dad coach his 8th grade basketball team this morning with my nephew.

My Dad taught for over 35 years and in that span coached several sports, including badmitten, basketball and tennis. I've never witnessed a team of boys whose understanding of their skill level was so far removed from reality. It must be difficult as a coach to walk the fine line of first explaining to kids who think they're good that they aren't, then getting them to then become coachable enough to positively change. I had this thought: when you admit to a weakness, you're often times the last person to recognize it. Scary thought.

Watching him reminded me of how good he is with seeing potential in students. Despite their inability to dribble, pass or shoot, he continues to work through the fundamentals with them.

It's a good memory you know you'll share with family in the future.