(This is a guest article by Cheryl Robinson)
Shoot, pass it, red zone, see the ball, defense, you have to line your bananas up. After a decade of sports management, aka scorekeeper, I’ve heard practically every phrase in sports terminology used to motivate a team or individual, inspire them to do their best and win. Being anything except number one is grounds for feeling like a loser. I have been honored to have been a part of winning teams with extraordinary seasons; one team even played in the televised Division III NCAA Championship Game for men’s basketball. One of the perks is I am the only girl who gets to travel with a group of guys.
Over the years I’ve learned quite a few things; tricks of the trade, lingo, locker room gossip and what it takes to play in the championship round. Play number one: if you’re going to win, first you have to know what game you’re playing. The only game to be played is your own game. If you try and play your opponents game you’ll always have to play your defensive line rather than the offensive. If you only play defense you never have the opportunity to score points. The moment you start playing your game (play the weak side, shoot, bunt, steal, pass) you leave yourself room to map out your course, decide what play to use to rack up points on the scoreboard.
Being on the defensive side leaves room for errors; you have to work harder to get back down the court, block, steal, reverse, throw strikes and side out. The same holds true in life. Many people are more concerned about themselves, then others. You are the only one who can look out for yourself. Once you start trying to play the opposing team’s game you lose sight of your vision and how you’ll get there. Focusing on your skills, your abilities and your offensive strategy will drive you to a scoring position.
Keep sight of the overall goal, muffle the negative jeers and remain steadfast, and you’ll be sure to find yourself playing for the championship.
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Cheryl Robinson graduated from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey with a B.A. in Business. She has managed and kept score for various college basketball, baseball and volleyball teams for more than ten years. She continues to assist with Richard Stockton’s men’s basketball team while working as the Sports Marketing Coordinator for the Athletic Office at the College.
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