Teamwork, Grit, Courage: Lessons from a Rare Defeat

Chris Hancock - Assistant Headmaster for Student Life
A mantra in Eagle Hill athletics has always been: Kids first. Winning second.
A mantra in Eagle Hill athletics has always been: Kids first. Winning second. Of course, I caution you not to be mistaken by that idea. Every day our boys and girls work hard in practices and games to bring home a win. Many varsity sports compete for conference titles and are always striving to improve their win-loss records. In fact, there isn’t a coach worth his or her salt that would deny the more often one wins, the more likely the players are to run through a wall for them. Focus increases, listening intensifies and execution looks effortless. It’s a natural and exciting byproduct of winning. However, winning is never prioritized above the kids. Their development, enjoyment of the game they’re playing, sportsmanship and understanding of teamwork is never compromised for a win.
 
If one wanted to argue that even greater lessons than the aforementioned could be learned through the exact opposite - a defeat - they would need not look farther than Wednesday’s varsity boys basketball game. Since February 2014, all this team has known is winning. After a conference playoff round loss last year, this young and very talented group of boys has worked hard to improve their on and off the court chemistry. From spring AAU tournaments to late night shoot-a-rounds all summer and fall, these young men have put an admirable level of effort into their craft. Thus far, it has paid off. They carried an unblemished league record halfway through the season, earning major victories over Dublin, the team that ousted them from the playoffs last year, and newcomer powerhouse Paulo Freire.
 
Then, mere 48 hours ago, EHS stared at something they hadn’t seen in its gym in over 12 months – a scoreboard with the visiting team ahead at the end. After an incredible back and forth game that almost saw a 15 point comeback from our boys, they fell short by a mere 2 points to the same Paulo Freire team that they topped by 5 the week prior.
 
It was undoubtedly a deflating moment and failure, as they say, can look both ways. Yet, our boys in the wake of this moment chose not to unravel in feelings of shame and frustration. Rather, they gazed in the other direction of growth and improvement. Many spent extra time in the gym that evening working on little pieces of their game they now know they need to improve while others watched film. That recommitment to often overlooked fundamentals carried over into their practice yesterday.
 
I believe their reactions and attitudes in defeat were a direct result of how they are coached and the priorities that are imparted to them by the staff. They bounced back with deeper focus and will surely get back to their winning ways not because victory has been the priority, but because their coaches attempt to impart to them the importance of their growth as individuals, their grit, and the substance of putting teammates and each other above all the noise.
 
It is something subtle at times, but a philosophy I am proud to say our coaches believe can have the greatest impact on their players as they grow into young men and women. Kids first. Winning second.
 
Have a wonderful weekend,
Chris
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