The enthusiasm of this year's freshmen has me thinking.  Although this is the 28th time I have welcomed freshmen to my team, it is THEIR FIRST!   All those years of hard work combine, and there they are; at the beginning of their college careers.  Their enthusiasm is biblical:  " Oh, sing to the Lord a NEW song" Psalm 96:1  -- we can learn something about coaching from this concept.

New seasons, new positions, new friends, new staffs, new players, new campuses, new teams....you get my point.  Have you ever wondered why the good Lord made our days and separated them by night or darkness?   Did you ever have one of those games when you just couldn't stand the thoughts of why your team lost;  maybe even because of a decision you made as a coach?  You finally get to sleep, and you awake, ready to try coaching again.  My daddy always reminded me that the sun would, for sure, come up tomorrow.  And it did.  (Perhaps, He made summers to separate our seasons.  (: )

In lamentations, Jeremiah's sorrow at the destruction of Jerusalem is well documented.  Yet, in Chapter 3, v 22-23 he proclaims:  "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not, They are NEW every morning; Great is Your faithfulness"  It's clear to me, the NEWNESS of the morning requires a song, NOT because of who I am, but because of His faithfulness.  Same is true of this year.  I should be singing about this new basketball season, NOT because of the talent on my team or my experience as a coach, but because of my FAITH that He is in it all; and that He will not fail me!  When I strive to be a Kingdom Coach,  I strive to run my team with Kingdom principles.  As you begin another season, whether it is your 1st or 41st, my prayer is you greet the players with enthusiasm!

1. Psalm 118:24 states: "This is the day that the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it".  Does this give you hope that no matter how many starters you have returning, God is with you?   Be calm and assured (but still work hard).
2. One of John Wooden's favorite quotes is, "make each day your masterpiece".  Imagine for a moment that you played for this great coach.  How do you think he would have communicated this important truth to you?   How can you communicate this to your players?
3. Gratitude and thanksgiving seem to go with this type of attitude.  What are you presently thankful for about your team members and your university/school?   How can you show this thankfulness?
4. Two of my favorite coaches are Dean Smith and Dick Bennett.   Both retired in the fall, before their games started, instead of after a great season.  Both of them talked about not having the energy left for the tasks of coaching their team at that time.  Do your identify with this?  We depend on newness to bring us enthusiam.  Our players, especially the new ones, need to see our love for this time, game, and them.  How can you show this in your actions?
5. As coaches we talk a lot about enthusiasm and its greatness.  What are your favorite coaching quotes on this topic?   One of mine is, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm". Ralph Waldo Emerson

As I write all this, I am thankful for the six seniors that I lost from last year's team.  Each of them contributed to our success in a unique way.  And I am equally as thankful for the five new faces and the dreams they bring to our program.  Their dreams are alive and they appear ready to fuel them in any way possible.  My prayer is that I lead them with the confidence of Him, trusting each day, and singing loudly about it!   The sky really is them limit.

Keep the Faith,
Jane