In an era that has older generations constantly imploring our young to take ownership in all aspects of their lives there seems to be an inordinate amount of credit taking by various folks on their periphery. Nowhere is this more true today than in athletics in general and girls’ basketball in particular.
“Step up and take responsibility”…“Make the most of your opportunities”… “Nobody can do it for you”…pick your cliché and you can bet that most of the players who aspire to play basketball on the colligate level have heard it time and again. The irony in that happens to be when an athlete does achieve some level of success, receives some type recognition or earns exclusive on-floor opportunities there seems to be plenty of individuals or groups quick to stake a claim to their accomplishment.
Yes, I’m fully cognizant that it takes a lot of people to facilitate a player’s goals and dreams. Somebody, most often parents, provided the financial support, transportation, gear, and material needs that inherently come with pursuing the brass ring. They’re also responsible for access to club basketball, individual skill instructors, camps and personal training while giving up a new car, family vacations, that new 60 inch widescreen and quite often their very own sanity. They also nurse injuries, dry tears and offer advice (wanted or unwanted!). Siblings, as well, often are forced to sacrifice their own summer vacation and plans while spending time in gyms and various hotels around the country so big sister can do her thing. While this may lead to resentment and possibly intense therapy later in life, brothers and sisters often become an athlete’s biggest fan and, more importantly, a rare source of objective support.
You also have to acknowledge that along the way a coach or two had a hand in the evolution of her game. Somebody connected with her and helped develop and refine the skills that added another name to the scholastic and club basketball radar. There were people there to teach her, push her, rebound for her and support her. They kept her up when she was down and reined her in when she was a little too high on herself.
At the same time you can’t overlook a club program that can play a key role in an athlete’s growth, development and exposure. Playing on the right team with the right players, competing in the top tournaments in the top divisions and providing organized structure in the three ring circus of nonscholastic basketball and recruiting should never be underestimated.
Then there have been tournaments, individual showcases and exposure opportunities themselves that have provided the stage for her to catch the eye of recruiters and evaluators. Some events have brought out her best while others have opened her eyes to the need to work harder to compete with those she lined up against. All have allowed her to make an impression and often opened the doors to the possibilities and realities of her basketball future.
The growth of girls’ basketball media and the higher profile of recruiting services have fueled her fire, her status and, unfortunately at times, her ego. Coverage and evaluations can offer confirmation to college coaches or raise red flags for them just the same. Rankings can be a boost to an athlete’s self-confidence or become a burden and obsession that diverts, distorts and distracts.
Selection for participation at elite individual events, skills academies and trials for USA Basketball participation offer further confirmation of being on the right path. The chance provided to be part of a select group offers not just the challenge of success but the opportunity for advancement by competing with and against the best.
While all of these entities have provided opportunities, direction, training and exposure, in the end, achievement and accomplishment belong to the athlete alone. All the support that is there for every successful, high profile athlete is also there for many, many more that did not enjoy the same results. The commitment of parents, coaches, clubs, events and any of the other externals surrounding an athlete of lesser performance can’t be minimized because of a different outcome. The defining difference between those two athletes comes on the floor. In that light it’s important for an athlete to take ownership (There it is again!) in her effort, sweat, pain, performance and the realization of her goals.
It’s frustrating to see and hear the generic “we” from parents when they discuss their daughter’s performance, recruiting and accomplishments. There are coaches that do very little teaching and development while enjoying the play of a standout on their roster and yet still has the nerve to expect a nod of acknowledgement for their minimal contribution. With the merry-go-round of club teams today you see multiple programs claiming the same athlete and her achievements as their own whether she played one tournament, one summer or her whole career for them. You’ve even got event operators that have already well-established and high profile athletes attend just one camp or clinic and in turn promote them as alumni in brochures or on web sites with the implication that those few hours were instrumental in her long term success. There are evaluators and services claiming their writings, rankings or recommendations were the reason a player got an offer, invitation or recognition.
Who says we don’t have much in common with the men’s game? Everybody wants to stake a claim to the success of a teenager. The men’s side does it blatantly for the prospect of long term money while our side seemingly does it for ego and self-promotion. While both lack any illusion of integrity at least there’s a semblance of honesty in an agenda driven by dollar signs. The most honest claim attached to a successful player in the women’s game is that of the player herself.
I’m not saying any of this to minimize the contributions of those who most certainly helped put an athlete in a position to succeed. They’re no doubt essential as a part of the process. It’s just important that we emphasize the need for a young person to know that the “ownership” that the world is always pushing them to take is not limited to mistakes and responsibilities. It’s for taking credit as well and embracing the realization that “she” did something…and did it well at that. Sure there was help, support and opportunities along the way but in the end she put it in the basket, delivered the pass or got the stop. She’s entitled to the rewards that come with those efforts without her self-satisfaction and confidence being watered down by the chest beating of those on the sidelines.
