Break needed

[BillyMac]

For over twenty-five years I tried to coach middle school basketball in the afternoon, and officiate high school basketball at night.

I did it because I loved coaching, and I loved officiating, and because, frankly, my family needed the money as we were expecting our three kids to eventually want to go to college.

I don't know why it took me over twenty-five years to figure out, but doing both, and being a middle school science teacher, and raising a family, was burning me out. Something had to go, and it was the coaching, and honestly, I don't miss it.

[crosscountry55]

I agree with BillyMac. It's really hard to do both. The fact that you've chosen to focus on one, with some personal sacrifice, is noteworthy. You will have some fortunate kids playing for you.

On a broader note, this is one of the reasons I feel assignors and commissioners should be independent and outside of board/association politics. Boards and associations are great when their focus is education and development. When money and assigning get involved, the equation changes.

Poker analogy (you know how I love those): ever notice how you play the game differently when your hard-earned money is involved as opposed to pretzels and oreos?

The impact of money on board integrity is an undeniable truth.