My Time Here at SC in Sectional Ships

(2014)

(2015

(2016)

(2018)

(2019)

It Never Gets Old...

Thanks to Coach Brandon Hoffman for allowing me to be part of the ride. We have won 5 sectionals in the 6 years I have helped at Silver Creek and the only game we lost was in overtime. Great kids and great coaches make it thoroughly enjoyable for me and my family.

13 Ways in Approaching Coaches about More Playing Time

Some pointers for parents who want more playing time for their child in any given sport.

Dos:

1. Put in extra time off the court, you are not at practice, so you cannot know what's going on there, but if you put in extra time off the court, you can see where improvements are made.

2. Schedule a face to face with the coach some time away from the game so that emotions aren't involved.

3. Volunteer to coach at a lower level so you can see how hard it is to be "fair" when it comes time for you to watch, and then understand that when your child is playing.

4. Realize that this season will too end and unless the coach is being physically or emotionally abusive (coaching is neither) your child will learn a lot and be ready for the next coach.

5. If you are more than one season into a career, your child may not be being picked on, but it may be obvious to everyone but you that she is just not that good.

6. Include your child in the meeting the "don't say anything to ______ because he doesn't know I'm here and wouldn't like it" is weak. Get everyone on the same page, or stay away.

Don'ts:

1. Never say it's not about playing time...it always is. You may believe it is not, but it is, be honest with yourself.

2. Do not text or email...meet face to face or over phone. Tone can never be measured through the written word here and either side can get angry real quick over perceived tone.

3. Do it as least emotional as you can, so don't approach immediately after a game or in a hostile manner.

4. Do not stand for anyone else to approach the coach. This absolutely does not go over well.

5. Other people rarely ask why your child doesn't play more because that would require him playing over their child. Admit that you have complained and someone was being a good friend and agreed with you even if they didn't actually agree with you.

6. You are not a practice, not all players are treated equal (cost-benefit analysis for sure), so refrain from personal attacks on the coach.

7. Stay off social media with your complaints, it's embarrassing to you and to your child. It gives others with axes to grind to comment, and you would not like it if were happening to you or your child coaching.

Whether you agree or disagree with the coach, at the end of the season thank them for taking so much personal time away from their family and friends to try and instill values into your child.

The amount of money paid for any coaching position (sometimes $0) does not account for the time and efforts put into coaching and dealing with all of the issues they deal with.

How to Be Successful at Anything in 5 Steps

1. You must be willing to give up something to get what you want.

2. You must be willing to push through pain and discomfort to get what you want.

3. You must be willing to receive help to get what you want.

4. You must put in the time to get what you want. (See #1 and #2).

5. You must be give everything you have risking heart breaking failure.

Failed that Quiz

You know, I have a set of ideals I try to live by and many people think they may be unattainable, but I don't.

They are harder than the average person, I am sure, but they are nothing out of the realm of possibility of happening.

But I fail often and though it may feel good to do so sometimes, ultimately, I feel badly.

I feel badly because I am trying to be a good example for many especially when hostile situations occur.

The other night, I reacted in a way I am not proud of.

I reacted in a way that probably deserved the way I reacted, but not with the words I used.

I believe in righteous anger, I think some of my reaction was done because of that, but I should have chosen different words.

People may say bad things about me, they may think bad things about me, and I don't really like it, but I understand it can happen; however when someone attacks those close to me, I see it as something to horrific that it must be confronted.

But there's a better way than I did the other night.

And I feel such a hypocrite.

R.I.P.

You want to truly know what it's like to live? To be alive?

Be diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Every single breath becomes a gift.

Every experience, no matter how small, becomes the most important experience ever.

Food tastes better, love becomes stronger, and you care about everyone deeply.

But here's the thing, no one gets out of this alive.

"Seat belts save lives!'

"Say No to Drugs...to save lives"

I could go on and on about what "saves lives", but nothing that "saves lives" actually saves lives.

It only delays the inevitable which is the unpleasant truth that we will all die.

So why is it usually only those who appreciate life are one's who have been diagnosed with death when we all have been diagnosed with death?

Shouldn't we strive to have every breath to be a gift? Every experience to matter? And for everything to taste better, for us to love strong and care deeply?

Of course we should because you've been diagnosed with death, we just don't know when that time will come.

We burn the days up when we are young as if we will live forever, but we won't.

In fact, I have friends who have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses and many people feel bad for them, however, I have other friends who will actually pass before that person does, heck, it could even be me.

So get up off the couch and live life.

Experience what this life has to offer and help those who have less than you.

I believe that there is a heaven and I believe it will be a better place than here.

So I will continue to enjoy this life and I will attempt to help those with less...so they too can enjoy this life.