January 4, 2016 - Making Good Reads

Today at basketball practice Coach Jon and I spent a lot of time emphasizing repetition in shooting, boxing out, cuts to get open, etc. In the process I stopped the action often to point out “reads” the girls should’ve made in order to find a clear path to the basket…

Sometimes these “reads” were as simple as seeing the defender overcommitting and knowing when to make a “backdoor cut” to the basket; other times it was recognizing who was on defense to know if the offensive player should post up low or try to get the ball out high; sometimes it was as basic as knowing when the defender loses sight of who she is guarding and the offensive player then diving to the basket. The simple goal is “making reads” to finding the clearest, most direct paths to the goal!

The girls really got after it today as I urged them to be aggressive in their pursuit of the ball. The girls today where coachable; they allowed me to point out faults and they immediately worked on doing things differently. The girls today were truly listening and when I pointed out a better path to the goal they used it. The girls today were committed to progress in their skills and understanding of the game… knowing that would in return make the games go better. (It was a joyful time of teaching today!)

Welcome to 2016 where you will have a choice of where you get your advice. Will you seek the Coach and hear His Word on a regular basis in order to find clear paths in your life? Will you sit under the teaching of clear Bible teaching that helps not only in understanding those clear paths but also in seeing your own faults? (Imagine if we were as interested in finding our own faults as much as in finding fault in others…)

This week’s devotion begins the 15^th year of weekly trying to share the truths of Scripture packaged in sports lesson. But bottom line in all (730 or so) weeks of doing this is that the Scriptures are our Playbook! Make sure your daily “reads” include this Playbook (which is more important than everywhere else you can find advice!)

Proverbs 4:20-21, 25-27 (The Message)

Dear friend, listen well to my words;
    tune your ears to my voice.
Keep my message in plain view at all times.
    Concentrate! Learn it by heart!

Keep your eyes straight ahead;
    ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
    and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
    leave evil in the dust.