I have just returned from the Lutheran Middle School Basketball Tournament in Austin. I coach the 7th/8th Grade Boys Team at Crown of Life Lutheran School in Colleyville. I am a volunteer. While I have over twenty-five years of coaching experience this was my first season at COL.
I realized from the get-go that coaching this team would have its challenges. To start with we only had seven players. This put us at a disadvantage when it came to playing teams with larger rosters, who were able to subtitute freely always keeping fresh players in the game. I also had to be concerned about fouls since I couldn't afford to lose one player. A even greater shortcoming arose when we practiced. With only seven players, scrimmaging during practice was out. We had no one to try our plays against.
Then there were the players themselves. While six of the seven had previous experience, a couple of them had health issues. One of my post players suffered from asthma, requiring him to take regular breaks on the bench. My best outside shooter had Tourette Syndrome. Then there was Adam. Adam was an 8th grader who was new to the school. He had no experience playing basketball. Adam also struggles with Asperger's Syndrome. For those unfamilar with this disorder, it affects their ability to relate to peers and also slows their motor skills development.
In time Adam became part of the rotation at the post position. He was one of the bigger boys on the team and became effective at boxing out the opponent. In the process he became a proficient rebounder, in one game even pulling down a team best nine. Still as the season was drawing to a close Adam had yet to score a basket. It was not for lack of effort. Adam regularly made baskets in practice. He even took numerous shots during our games. Some of this attempts weren't close but others bounced off the backboard or rim. Still it became a goal of his teammates to get Adam his first basket.
As we headed to Austin, Texas for the State Lutheran Middle School Tournament, Adam still had not scored a point during a game. Our team had gotten better and we were optimistic we would do well. We really wanted to come home with a trophy but just as important for us, we wanted Adam to make a basket. In our first game we played an opponent we easily overmatched. With three minutes left in the game we were up by twenty-five. I called a time out and informed the team that their only goal the rest of the game was to help Adam make a basket. Not wanting to run up the score, I forbid any other player to shoot. They were to work the ball to Adam and let him take the shot, and shoot he did. A couple of times a teammate would grab the rebound from his errant shot and feed the ball right back to him. Several shots came close but nothing went in. The game ended in a lopsided victory.
Our first game on Saturday was intense and close. Adam saw limited playing time and had no opportunity to take a shot. But in our second game on Saturday we again found ourselves playing against a lessor opponent. Adam saw some playing time in the second half but had not taken a shot. Up by almost twenty with the clock running down, I was prepared to call a time out and shift to our feed-the ball-to-Adam offense. Before I could do that however, Adam launch a shot. It was high arching attempt that hit the top to backboard and went high in the air. The crowd gasped as the ball came straight down and through the hoop. Adam turned and ran back down the court with his hands raised high in the air like he had won the Olympic Gold. With the pressure off, he took a feed from our center on the next possession and made a perfect lay-up. Four points in one Game! Following the game he posed for pictures with the game ball.
I was proud of Adam but I was more proud of the team that accepted him as a player and friend. Many Asperger kids find themselves being bullied because of their differences. At our school he was just another kid.
As we celebrated as a team following our last game on Saturday night I addressed the parents. I told them that my experience is that children are a reflection of their folks. This team affirmed that. Crown of Life Lutheran School is a loving, accepting community.
I think the lesson here for all parents is to model inclusiveness. We tend to think of being inclusive when it comes to race and ethnic background, but I think it also means accepting those who for whatever reason might be different than the norm. When parent practice acceptance they provide the model. When they help their children learn to adjust and accept their classmates and peers who might be excluded for one reason or another they pass on that trait. The reality is that we are all Children of God and he has made each of us unique.
By the way, the trophy we bought home was for sixth place. Not bad for our boys when you consider their were twenty-two teams in our division.
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