Learning from mistakes
The Bethel’s Mens basketball team runs through practice drills preparing for a game.
By Taylor Fondie
Zach Korba moves along at the three-point arc in the RC gym and makes the first basket he shoots. Nothing but net and concentration. His teammate tosses him another ball. He shoots his second shot. Makes it.
Aerosmith’s “Dream On” plays on the sound sound system as the men’s varsity basketball team practices shooting drills on the four hoops. The buzzer goes off and the red around the hoop lights up. The drill ends.
Korba shoots his final shot and misses. Disappointed Korba lets out a sigh, but moves to the next drill with his team.
The coach instructs the team to move on to transition offensive drills. The players quickly get to their spots ready to go. Ten players on the team wear blue practice jerseys. The rest of the six wear gold; meaning they are the backups, getting less time on the game court, but more intense time on the practice court. They are preparing for their game coming up.
The sound of shoes squeaking on the gym floor and intense music is playing as the players switch on and off the court, in continuous drills.
“Circle up!” Doug Novak yells. “This isn’t us. We are vocal and we need to be vocal. Let’s start talking.”
The players get back to their drill positions.
“Ball, ball, ball!!”
“Move right!”
Communication is a key when it comes to sports. Korba calls out to his teammate Granger Kingland, “Granger! Granger!” Kingland tosses him the ball at the arc. Korba shoots for the 3 pointer and makes it.
The teammates wait on the side ready to go in for the drill. They all clap as the ball makes it into the basket.
Robbie Whitey stumbles as he goes up for the layup and misses. The drill ends. He laughs and moves on.
The head coaches walk around, watching the players like hawks.
“STOP Jack!” Coach Novak shouts out. Stopping the group of three running down the court for the drill.
They run back. Small mistakes can go unnoticed, but not for Novak. He corrects Jack by showing him to go over with his right shoulder instead of his left. He corrects his mistake and continues on with the drill.
