I have been a Basketball coach for 14 years and
know first hand the beneficial effects basketball and playing team sports in
general can have on people. While most people assume the positive effects have
to do with being physically fit, as a therapist, I’m interested in the
emotional benefits of playing sports as well as the obvious physical ones.
Working with boys and girls in the 11-18 age range,
one of the things I observed over the years was how the sport equipped them
with life skills they could apply off the court. For example through turning up
to early morning practice on time, packing a kit bag, working hard during
practice and persevering with learning new skills, players acquired a range of
skills including commitment, sacrifice, organisation, accountability to one
self and the team, responsibility, confidence and ultimately leadership.
As well as what happened on the court, there was
often a therapeutic effect at play in the period after sessions. Many players
would speak to me after sessions about some of the difficulties they were
experiencing including homework, relationships, concerns with family and
worrying about their future. I was often surprised by what was shared and
equally what I was prepared to share about some of the challenges I
experienced with whilst growing up. .
Both the experience of playing basketball and the informal sharing which took
place afterwards enabled some players to address feelings associated with
depression and anxiety. In many instances I watched players transform from
people with low aspirations to people with ambition and hope about their
future. I attribute their transformation in part to both the success they
achieved on the court and the informal mentoring they received off the court.
Some of the reasons I have become a counsellor stem
from these conversations which sparked something in me to want to support
people who were experiencing some degree of emotional/mental difficulty.
Looking back on this now from the vantage point of a trained counsellor, I’m
interested in how sports develops positive relationships between players and
players and coaches which is a good starting point for therapeutic
conversations.
As a learning mentor in a boys secondary school in
London, basketball again proved an effective tool to enable young men who were
experiencing difficulties to talk. Talking whilst engaged in basketball allowed
young men to look at some of their
challenging behaviour and seek ways to adapt so as to get the best out of their
school experience. Games like P.I.G. and H.O.R.S.E were great as whilst the
young men were focussing on making their shot I would be able to offer some
useful insight to help their situation. Working this way helped me to establish
a good working alliance with the young men that were on my case-load. .
Recently I had a conversation with a friend about
wanting to develop an idea I have of incorporating Basketball and Therapy.
Given my love for the game, this seems like the obvious next step for me.
Watch this space....
