A valuable part of being a member of a sporting community is the ability to be inspired and the opportunity to inspire others. As a member of the Cougars basketball team, I personally know that each and every athlete on our team has been greatly inspired by others throughout their basketball careers. Coaches, teammates, and relatives have all provided inspiration in some form or another to almost every member of our team (coaches and training staff included). I speak on behalf of my teammates when I say that we have all been blessed to be part of such a great community. Our team has enjoyed success throughout the year, and has grown tremendously as a family in the past 6 months. In understanding our successes and privileges for being a member of such a great team, it is now our turn to inspire others in the basketball community.
Throughout the year, our team has been driven by hard work, commitment, and belief in ourselves. With our season now in playoffs, it is clear that our community has been very strong and successful. Our top priority at the moment is to get better everyday so that we may take this season as far as possible. Despite all of the success that we have had this year, improvements can be made to our community to help strengthen it even more.
This year, we had a U15 girls basketball team come and watch one of our games. After the game they were invited into our team room to discuss playing basketball at a post secondary level. We gave the girls feedback regarding schoolwork, work ethic, and the joy of playing basketball at a higher level. This simple event was nothing strenuous for our team, but provided the young girls with a unique opportunity to meet players that offer them inspiration in their basketball communities. This off-season, and next season, the Cougars can do a better job of inviting youth teams to participate in activities like these. This will not only invite others to join in and enjoy the atmosphere of our community, but also provide an opportunity for our community members to apply our leadership skills. Everyone in our community has been inspired by someone, and now it is our turn to help inspire others. This will help strengthen our community now and in the future.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” -John Qunicy Adams
I think it was so awesome having that team come in. It is so easy for our varsity teams to do short sessions like these and they can leave everlasting marks on aspiring young players. Hopefully next year we can get more involved with young teams like these that look up to us.
ReplyDelete"Lets get better!" - Joe E
Emily what I took away from your post was that amain priority of your team is leadership. As we've discuss in class and through our blogs leaders are very important. I think it's great you guys did that session with the U15 team. It's awesome to see different parts of the community give back to each other. It reminds me a little bit of the timbits hockey games during the intermissions of the Flames games. Gives the younger athletes a taste of what could come. This type of inspiration is key to growing a community. Hopefully you guys can keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThis program would be great to expand. It is easy to see how this one time event could spiral out to a community wide program that could involve all cougar teams and could affect many school communities in Calgary. It is necessary to have the support of the players to ensure the success of these types of events. I am encouraged by this post because it demonstrates how community development can benefit the givers (the Cougars team) through increased spectators and potential recruitment for future seasons and the takers (the high school athletes) through identifying the skills necessary to succeed in collegiate sports and the opportunities that exist.
ReplyDeleteNeat-o Emily! Loved this post! I loved the story you shared about having that U15 team come into see the team after a game! I think leadership and reaching out are priorities that never let you down in the long run. I can't wait to cheer on the Cougars this weekend! Good luck!
ReplyDelete