Almost 10,000 people will descend on Springfield, MO this week for what marks the end of the Homeschool Basketball Season - the 2013 NCHBC National Tournament. This tournament is the crown jewel of homeschool athletics and what every homeschool program wants to be in. For teams and players, this is also the finish line. This tournament marks the end of 6 long months of grueling competition & hard practices. The final exam - the measure of how far they've come during the season. As we approach this tournament It's easy for us to get the feeling of "burn-out" after a long season. Yet, this is when your character is tested - this is when you need to focus harder and finish the race strong.
Too many times in life do people get close to the end, and then quit. Most times they don't realize that if they had just kept going, for a little while longer, they would have been able to cross the finish line. Instead, we live in a culture where we want immediate gratification, a fast-food mentality so to speak. We want the race to be over as soon as we start, growth to occur without pain, and awards without hard work. What we don't realize is that God does not typically work that way - He is more of a "crock-pot" cooker - slow, steady, and true. Seldom early, but NEVER late - always on time. What we don't realize is that when we quit the race before it's over, we also stop God from producing in us the character He wishes us to have, and from achieving His greatness in us.
As we approach this week, I want to take a moment and encourage all of you - Finish Your Race.
To Mom's & Dad's: Yes, you have spent a lot of money, given up a lot of vacation time, stayed up late, shuttled kids, and had your kids shuttled. You have sacrificed SOOOO much for your child's basketball enjoyment. Stay strong for one more week. Encourage your athletes to narrow their focus on the finish line while you stay focused on the finish line as well. Don't let the frustration of all the money spent and time taken off of work detract from you enjoying your child crossing that finish line. This is the time your child needs you the most. Don't let this moment pass you by. Finish Your Race.
To Players: Your coaches have pushed you hard all year long. You have worked hard all year long too. You've suffered through embarrassing defeats, been yelled at, gone through injuries, been benched, played too much, and played too little. It has all been for this week. Your season was your preparation for this "Final Exam". This is your opportunity to show how much you have grown in your game, and grown in The Lord. This is your opportunity to be a shining light to others in your program of what excellence is, and what it takes to be great. It has been a long year, and everyone is ready for a little break - BUT, don't lose focus. Don't quit now. Your finish line is almost here. Finish Your Race.
To Coaches: You have invested so much time into your players, parents, and program during the course of this year. Sometimes at the expense of your own family, work, & checking account. Each player & parent has needed you to help them learn something. As a coach, it's easy to start thinking about your first week of no basketball in 6 months or your next season. BUT, your season isn't over yet. This is when your parents and players need you the most. Focus on them now more than you ever have. Encourage them more than you ever have. Work harder now than you have all season. The race is almost over. Finish Your Race.
To Seniors: I've saved this last paragraph especially for you. There are so many things that are going through your mind right now: am I going to college, did I get the scholarship I wanted, do I have all my graduation stuff taken care of, what do I want to major in, etc...You are also thinking about finishing out your basketball careers. Playing with your friends for the last time, and for some of you, trying to capture that elusive National Championship (I know that was the case for me!) So many things are vying for your attention, but if you really want to enjoy this week, then you need to narrow your focus and give your all one more time. This is it! The last week of your high school basketball career - make sure you step off the floor on Saturday with no regrets. Finish Your Race.
What an awesome week you are about to have! May we finish this week as Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:".
Finish The Race.
In Christ
Coach CJ
Executive Director
Christian Homeschool Sports Ministries
www.chsmhouston.com
www.facebook.com/chsmhouston
Follow Coach CJ on Twitter - @CJPomeroy1
Follow CHSM on Twitter - @chsmhouston
Monday, March 18, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Enjoying the 2013 NCHBC!
It’s finally
here – the National Homeschool Basketball Championships of 2013! There are 35 states that have homeschool
sports – the NCHC will have 25 of those states represented at this years tournament in Springfield,
MO! For 21 years the NCHC has given
homeschool athletes a chance to compete against each other in one city, for 1
week, to claim the crown of “Undisputed Homeschool Champion”!
This tournament has also provided athletes
with a chance to prove their talent on the biggest stage in front college coaches
and scouts – a chance they rarely get during their season. The list of athletes who have played in front
of college coaches and scouts is quite long, and with the advancement of social
media and addition media coverage during the NCHBC 2013, the list will only get longer.
As a 10 year
veteran of the NCHC, I have come up with a few “Do’s” and “Don’ts” to
help athletes, parents, and coaches enjoy their week and continue to
help make this the biggest homeschool sporting event in the country! This is by no means a requirement - just some helpful advice :-)
o
PLAYERS
§
Do
·
Drink LOT’S of Water/fluids
·
Eat Healthy
·
Support other teams in your programs
·
Meet players from other programs in other states
·
Hang out with your teammates and family as much
as possible
·
Watch the great teams play
·
Be crazy awesome when watching teams in your
programs play
·
Reflect Christ in all you say & do
§
Don't
·
Stay up late/get up late
·
Be a recluse (get out with your
teammates/family)
·
Eat junk food
·
Play dumb practical jokes or pranks
·
Try to dunk if you really can’t dunk
·
Get mad at referees, other players, teams, or
fans
·
Anything that could disqualify you from
participating
·
Say things on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or
other Social Media sites that scouts can use to cross you off their list
o
PARENTS
§
Do
·
Encourage your athletes to watch/support other
teams in your program as much as possible
·
Check the brackets ALL THE TIME
·
Know where the gyms are and get there as early
as possible for games your athletes play in
·
Be crazy awesome when watching teams in your
programs play
·
Hang out with other families in your program as
much as possible
·
Use creative chants to support your team
·
Reflect Christ in all you say & do
§
Don't
·
Let your athletes stay up late/get up late
·
Be late to games
·
Assume anything
·
Badger referees, other players, other teams,
other coaches, or other fans
·
Use chants that are discouraging or degrade
other teams
o
COACHES
§
Do
·
Check your bracket often
·
Know what games you need to be at and what time
you need to be there
·
Carry extra uniforms with you
·
Have all of your parent/players phone numbers
·
Go through your entire NCHC coaches packet
·
Communicate the essentials to your
parents/players early and often
·
Meet the NCHC Staff
·
Reflect Christ in all you say & do
§
Don't
·
Assume Anything
·
Expect Tournament Staff to answer your question
as soon as you ask it
·
Allow your players/fans to taunt other teams –
especially if you are winning big
·
Forget your scorebook
·
Allow frustration to take away from your players
experience
All of these
items are crucial to making sure your week is the best that it can possibly be,
both for your team and your programs.
Greater excitement leads to greater atmospheres, which lead to great
games, which lead people to your programs, and scouts to your players!
Do these
things and you will have the best sporting event of your life!
See you in
Springfield!
Coach CJ
Executive Director – C.H.S.M.
Follow CHSM on Twitter
(@chsmhouston)
Follow Coach CJ on
Twitter (@CJPomeroy1)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)