My Painful 6th Grade Basketball Reel

As promised to all the children I teach and torture with skill work, here is my sixth grade basketball reel.
I watch this and cringe at my lack of skills. Yet I can ID the differentiators – my angst, my aggression, my passion and drive. There are two other players on the floor who played college basketball. This CYO game ended up being the start of a fierce rivalry that continued through high school and changed my teenage years and maybe even my basketball career for life. I was so driven to reach my goal of playing college basketball that I started writing down the drills I learned at camp in sixth grade (around this time). I could tell the difference between bad, good and great coaches early, and the best coaching started for me around grade 9. It was not just one coach – it was a combination of people who all chipped in. I even learned from the coaches who had more weaknesses than strengths.
Also note my risk of ACL tear is very clear as well (it happened when I was 17). I’m hyper-extended, aggressive, stiff-legged.
I am so thankful that I had a mother and father who set a daily example of what a work ethic should look like. You’ll see my dad’s passion by the end of the clip. The apple is literally right in front of the tree.
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Maureen Holohan
Director & Founder of Mo' Motion
Maureen Holohan is a former college and pro player, published author, teacher and journalist. Maureen started Mo’ Motion in Manhattan in 2009 with one team of boys. Today Mo’ Motion serves 650 players per year with its offices in Harlem, NY.
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