Non-Contact Sports

So, anyone who thinks basketball isn't a contact sport has probably never played the game. GraceAnne had her nose broken during a game a while back. It wasn't on a "dirty" play or done purposefully, just something that happened. Didn't look too bad and wasn't displaced but in a win on Saturday it got hit again and this time she looks a bit like an extra on the Sopranos. No foul was called on the play. Yesterday she got fouled hard from behind on a driving layup and went down awkwardly, hit her head on the floor and got a concussion.... the ref was in good position but again the foul, which is as clear as day in a video of the game, was never called!

Referees make mistakes. You're probably not going to see the highest level of officiating competence in a 12u girl's basketball game. That said, you see mistakes at every level of play. Mistakes are something that might not be easy to take given a particular situation, especially when it's your kid and you're emotionally invested in her well-being or even just the outcome of the game, but... what are you going to do? You have to deal with it as a parent, as a coach, as a player, it happens. The kids are always watching so as a parent, if you want your child to be able to work through it, you have to set a good example.

One of many lessons learned from playing up in a league like the one Grace is currently in, the older girls aren't always winning because of advanced skill. Sometimes it is simply because they are bigger stronger, more physical and are getting away with fouling consistently. Another example of this is a game played about a week ago. The opposing team had a big girl close to six feet tall that was over the back on just about every rebound. Difficult disadvantage to overcome.

Please don't think I'm complaining about "unfair" treatment. They did that six footer no favors. At this level the whistle is the best game-time teacher there is. I guess that big will have to learn some other time what over the back is... and traveling, and three seconds. As far as Grace's team, they have a lot of obstacles to overcome and if they don't get frustrated, or hurt too badly, they become a better and a tougher team when they can persevere through the disadvantages of being smaller and less physical. Sometimes, many times, you have to outplay the officiating as much as you do the other team and it becomes just one more on a long list of obstacles to overcome if you want to reach your goals and be successful.