starters?

So, we're still trying to figure out this basketball thing.

The kids on our team are 7-8 with the exception of Caden who is six. He doesn't care- put him in with the high school team and he probably wouldn't notice he's the smallest. He's kind of the typical youngest-of-four-boys tough.

I had a theory going into our first game to play all kids at all positions- moving them around. Everyone gets equal playing time. Everyone gets a chance to play guard, forward.... all of it. They're still YOUNG. All about positive reinforcement... learning the game.

The other coach shows up late to the game and lets me know she's still waiting on her two starters. One is her point guard. Starters? Is the woman crazy? They're seven and eight years old. This isn't high school, or even middle school.

Not to be mean, but she does wear '80's-style running {short} shorts to her practices, I should have taken that as a clue that she's probably serious.

Well, her starters proceeded to kind of run all over our more timid team. Yes, we have some aggressive kids {Caden being one of them} and ours all worked hard, but we're not the most experienced bunch.

A couple were on the verge of crying during the game while out on the court as the other team proceeded to intercept just about every pass we attempted. Crying? Not my plan for a positive experience.

I thought this was all about learning a love of the game. Fun. Basic skills. We're definitely going to have to step it up for our next game. Painful for Jim, I'm taking it on as a challenge. A huge challenge.

Pictures courtesy of Caden. I was a little busy running up and down the court.