The Hardens Kindergarten Basketball

A few days before the registration deadline, a mom in Collin's kinder class let us know of a great basketball league where there's one or two pre-season practices and then just one-hour Saturday commitments.  They were looking for a coach and after a slew of emails, one was found.  We registered Collin, and I sent Cas to the "mandatory" team formation morning in December.  

On the website, the team formation was the time to make sure Collin ended up on the team with other kids from his elementary school.  What happened was Cas was the only parent who showed up who had registered on time, so he became the defacto coach for eleven kindergarten boys.  

Despite watching his son dribble by slapping at the ball, Cas planned to teach around the back ball handling moves at the first practice.  He came home from the first practice, asked me to find him an assistant coach, and took a three-hour nap!

But the next practice, with an extra father lending a hand and lower expectations, went better, and over the course of the 6 week season, the team won more than they lost.  They were team #13, so Collin and Cas decided they'd be the Hardens, after their favorite Rocket with the same jersey number.

Before our last game, I snapped some photos of Collin and cheerleader, Maya - 

With Coach Cas -

The league was perfect, and it was the first time playing for at least half the boys on our team.  The goals were only six feet, and at the end of each 8-minute half, each kid had the chance to shoot a free-throw (from a half-way point, not the regulation free throw line).  This was how Collin scored his first basket.  Watching the boys line up to shoot free throws was entertaining - they'd be piled on top of each other, bumping into the person shooting, not at all trying to help them be focused on the basket.

At the end of each game, Cas awarded the one or two players who had done something special a beard.  After the last game, everyone had "earned" a beard and took team photos -

The Hardens - God bless the kindergarten teachers of these silly boys -

Cas was sharing how proud he was of the team's progress over the season, and Maya joined the team circle, confidently plopping down in Collin's lap -

Everyone won a trophy for something - most fast breaks, best rebounder.  Collin was most improved.

With a low-key party at a park, coach Cas became the favorite target of tag -

Collin showing off his monkey bar skills -

Maya showing off her strength in carrying both my mom's and my purse -

We had a fun first season, and for now, basketball is Collin's favorite sport!