As a former basketball player and coach, I had the privilege to be a member of numerous basketball teams. As a player those teams and experiences continue to shape me today. I can easily draw on an endless bank of memories that can still bring a smile to my face. There are teammates whose friendships outlasted any season. Friendships that were fortified by the hours of practice and travel, the collective thrill of the wins, and the shared hurt of the losses.
As a coach there is nothing more rewarding than beginning a season with 12 players and finishing a season with a team. The wins and losses become only one part of what you hope to achieve in a season. You can only wish that each player walks away with a stronger, more independent sense of who they are and who they can become as women!
As any competitor knows, you are always seeking the next win and thriving to become a better athlete or coach than you were when you first entered the gym, rink, court, field, or any other venue. What I have come to value about sport, beyond the medals, the the wins, or even the losses, are the relationships, character, and integrity that sport fosters.
