The End Is Just The Beginning

As I watched the Golden Eagles perform in our last two games, I was dismayed at their lack of . . . well everything. They were slow to recognize defensive rotations, forgetful when it came to calling screens, incapable of running an offense, and their shooting was abysmal. While they won the games, it was not their talent but sheer will power that pushed them through their weak moments. They were not themselves.

How can a team forget who they are? How can one week they appear to be invincible and the next week look as if they have just recently begun playing the sport?

If it were simply about techniques or tactics, we could resolve the issue quickly in a couple of practices. I knew this was not the case. They were not playing anywhere near their talents. There was something more going through their heads.

As the coaching staff discussed the issue, we came to realize we were getting near the end of the season. While this happens every year, this particular year we have six seniors who have been friends and teammates for four long years. Rather than anticipating the joy of every game, they have been wanting to extend every moment, to delay the inevitable. They do not want their collegiate basketball careers and friendships to end.

While we cannot stop time or rewind the clock, we can assist them through this process and help them know this is but one chapter of their lives. On Monday, we had each player write down five goals for the next year, five goals for the next five years, and five goals for the next 10 years. We then went around the room sharing our goals. We wanted them to see they had much more in life to enjoy, much more to experience and much more to love.

This first step was a solid one in assisting them with thinking about the future. The next step was much more difficult. We needed them to confront what they didn't want to think about--the end of the season. Gathering the seniors only, we sat in a circle and spent 45 minutes in a powerful discussion. Our first topic was to discuss what each of us would miss from our experiences at UC. The rules were that no repeats were allowed, no discussion and no comments. We went around the circle ten times. There were some tears and some quiet moments when some of us had to find our voices.

Using the same rules, we then spent time sharing what we could take with us from UC. Each player had a jar with a lid and a label which said, "Bottle It Up. UC." When a player said something she wanted to take with her, she wrote it down on a slip of paper and put it in her jar.

Hopefully our exercises have moved them beyond their concerns and fears about the future. It is hard to be in the moment when you are steeped in worry and anxiety. I want them to love each second and be fully present in it so they can play with all their talents.

It is far better to enjoy each second than to waste it on the future. If we will focus on the moments we have, we will be the talented team we are.

ONE HEART. ONE DREAM.