It is what you make of it

Local lawman remembered for being reliable, caring to all
May 10, 2016
Lt. Governor Nungesser touts tourism’s value to Terrebonne region
May 10, 2016
Local lawman remembered for being reliable, caring to all
May 10, 2016
Lt. Governor Nungesser touts tourism’s value to Terrebonne region
May 10, 2016

The older I get, the more I realize that I don’t know nearly as much about life as I think I do.


Never has that been more apparent to me than in the past month or so.

For years I’ve coached youth basketball – a journey that I feel like my readers have been a huge part of, because I’ve chronicled my experiences with that adventure heavily in this column.

It’s been a blast, and I’ve made friendships and memories that will follow me forever through that the game that I’ve been infatuated with for my whole life.


But for as much as I’ve enjoyed the ride, I’ve always been limited in my experiences, because I only coached at the Biddy Basketball level. For those not familiar with how it works, that meant that I coached from September through February, then took the entire spring and summer off once the Biddy season came to its end.

There are summer leagues available on the AAU circuit, but I always steered clear from that level of play, because of the stereotype that the association gets for being a meat market – a poorly run entity that does more harm than good for the kids it serves.

Never have I been more wrong.


Is AAU perfect?

Nah, it’s not. It has many faults and problems that need to be corrected.

But is it worth it for a child looking to get better and/or enhance his/her passion in the game?


You bet it is.

This summer has taught me a long, hard lesson about travel sports and their value in a child’s development in athletics. After years on the opposite side of the fence, finally I have made the leap and have crossed over to the other side.

Travel sports are like anything else in life – they are what you make them out to be.


If used with the proper intentions, they are absolutely a valuable tool which can be used to make any kid better.

See, what people often don’t realize is that winning and losing really don’t matter when children are at play.

That was a hard, bitter pill for me and my overly competitive ego to swallow. Heck, in the heat of games, it’s a statement that I still struggle to accept as fact. No one loves to win more than I do. I’m one of the most competitive people that I know. I’ve always been that way – even for as unathletic as I am when I’m on the court myself. But when I have a clear mind and am out of the adrenaline rush, I know that it’s true – the results really aren’t important to the big picture.


Sure, it’s awesome to be victorious, and it’s a feeling that gives people a great feeling of pride.

But what’s truly important is the travel sports afford young men and women the opportunity to play more games – an experience that’s invaluable to a kid’s development and future.

Just think about it like this.


We always say sports clichés like ‘Practice makes perfect,’ or ‘Hard work makes a champion.’

So if those things are true, what’s better for a young athlete’s development – playing Xbox 360 all summer or being in a basketball gym or baseball diamond competing for five or six weekends out of the year?

What’s more conducive to development – not touching a ball from March-September or having 20-30 opportunities to see live action against your peers in the sport of your choice?


The answer is easy, and I don’t even have to tell you guys what the correct answer is.

Kids are miniature adults, and adults are creatures of habit. The more we do something, the better we get at it. The more things we see in an environment, the better we get at recognizing problems, communicating and surviving.

It’s the same in basketball.


The more a kid plays, the better he/she becomes.

The more a kid plays, the more the game slows down.

The more a kid plays, the faster he/she can adjust to adversity and overcome it.


I never was on board with any of these things that I’m saying, but I’ve finally seen the light.

This is my first summer coaching hoops year-round – something I never thought I’d commit to doing.

But now that I’m in it and am experiencing what it’s all about, I’ll happily step forward and admit that I was wrong.


AAU Basketball isn’t a problem.

Like anything else in life, it’s the people who abuse it and use it for the wrong reasons who are where the problem lies.

Travel sports are an awesome tool – one I’m proud to be a part of.


It’s awesome to watch those little guys get better and better every time they step on the floor.

South Lafourche FlashCASEY GISCLAIR | THE TIMES