Planning as Basketball Parents: Assembling Your Child's Scrapbook (or Yours)

I hope this inspires some of you to work on your (or your child's) scrapbook soon.

Why? In the digital age, maybe scrapbooks are passe. But for us 'old timers' a scrapbook captures memories unavailable elsewhere.

Many have athletic and academic resumes far more accomplished than I, but it's never too soon to collect the digital and print grist for your memory mill. It's impossible to know what the media of the future will be. 

Organization. Chronological and topical are the two logical choices. A problem arises when you have boxes of photographs and clippings and you're unsure of what went when. 

Pictures could be from anywhere...on the pitch...

Or in a "Garden." 

Content. What's too inconsequential? Nothing. Decide later. Your first hit in Little League or merit badge in Scouts might seem like nothing, but it might trigger visceral gratitude decades later. Maybe it eases that nagging pain in the pitching elbow a little on a rainy day. 

It doesn't have to be only about sports. Include family, favorite stuffed animal, the cherished pet, school photos, a third grade essay about frogs, a stellar report card or standardized test score. 

I wish I had pictures of a Navy dinner at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami circa 1982, sitting across from Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, eating stone crab and key lime pie. Unfortunately, I have little photographic record of my entire Navy career. My bad. 

Above all, it's personal. And it's a keepsake that like gardening or cooking takes time. 

How do you make a digital scrapbook? Start with a search. Take a lot of pictures. Throw a lot against the wall and some of it will stick. 

Carpe diem, seize the day, before it's too late.

Lagniappe. Practice with a partner.

• Drag a teammate into the top 10%
• Increase efficiency with a rebounder.
• Have someone to record video. 
• Make it competitive. Add defense. 
• Establish personal best and partners best. 

Lagniappe 2. Two of many hints from great Canadian coach Dave Smart:

• The “cutter” in your offense should be your weakest long shooter, they can help you by attacking inside (cutting in from the ballside wing, the top, or the weakside 45 angle).
• As a player, you always need to be a threat – ask “how am I helping the team” – if you are short, and don’t shoot well, then you better learn to cut hard while you work on shooting and/or growing.