Coaches Tips: Balancing Basketball And The Holidays

The early basketball season overlaps with Thanksgiving and Christmas, which are two of the more prominent holidays in the US. These holidays provide a few days off for most school age kids and adults.

Playing and coaching a sport during these periods can be challenging without question, but as we progress towards the end of the year I think it’s essential to take some time to realize all the things that should be important in our lives.

When I was younger I often asked myself what the most important thing in my life was. Very early on it was centered around family and friends, but this thought somewhat shifted as I grew older. During my early to late teenage years, all I could ever think about was hoops and how I wanted to be the best player ever.

I was consumed with the desire of being better than everyone I played against and this sentiment grew even more as I saw the results of my hard work. Nothing really ever mattered to me at the time because I was so dedicated to the work and my basketball future.

Looking back, I’m thankful for my parents and coaches. They helped me balance out life and basketball during my teenage years. They helped me realize that basketball wasn’t a life or death thing. I was always taught to handle my responsibilities and honor my commitments. But alongside that, I was also taught to enjoy my time off with family and friends, to be present, and to allow my mind to relax during the holidays and memorable moments in life. I needed this to decompress and, at times, renew my mind.

My suggestion to every coach reading this would be: allow your players to take the necessary time needed to focus on family and friends during the holidays the next month or so.

Coaches often preach “no days off” but in reality, days off are needed to help promote growth at an exponential level. I understand that time is precious on and off the court but remember these are young players that are still developing in many different ways. These few extra days off for the holidays will help players come back with a refreshed mindset. And you’ll see a desire for players to get back after it at an even higher level if the proper amount of time off is provided to them.

And if you’re concerned with players being rusty or out of shape upon returning I’d recommend pulling out your Dr. Dish shooting machines a few extra times before, during and after practice to allow players to get in extra reps.

By doing this you’ll build confidence and your players will have fun getting back to the work!