Blog Summary # 2

As we all can see in my blog on sports and socializing are very important to me in my leisure life. There is also one aspect of my leisure activities that I have not really talked about in my blog but I did mentioned a few times. I coach basketball for the city of Saint-Laurent and also in a small elementary school located in the West Island. As a coach I've been given the opportunity to desmonstrate my values, skills, knowledge and experience based on what I have learned about basketball and my own personal social experiences. I have not really gone in depth about my coaching because I felt that I was employed and getting paid for the work. But on the other hand I am helping kids benefit and even if in a small way in some kind of leisure activity. This will actually be going on my eighth year as a coach.

For me coaching basketball and socializing have something in common because they inevitably overlap each for team unity. To become a great coach is not solely about winning every game and championship banner; it is more important to be able to develop good communication skills and team chemistry. This allows players to interact with other teams and can be used off and on court and in their regular daily interactions.

As a leisure educator, as defined in our studies, my ultimate goal is to help my players to become better basketball players and also make the learning process enjoyable. And most of all appreciate the activity in which they are involved in. I have often reminded my players, and myself as well, that we cannot win basketball games without good communication skills and chemistry and no matter how good we are or how poor we are. The key to success is the try the best we can while we are learning individually and as a whole and then together on the same page we can achieved success. The most important thing that I tell my players is to have fun and focus on their passion for the game of basketball. If they do not have those two significant feelings within them, they will definetely lose interest and motivation for the game.

Basically, all I do is pass on my knowledge and experiences to them so that they can also experience the positive rewards of the game because I see how it has helped me to become a better person in my everyday life and even gave me great satisfaction for leisure. I am happy and grateful to have the opportunity of teaching them basketball as a leisure activity. I am not the best coach and there has definetly been a few times that they have seen me angry, discouraged and yelling and even cursing in which I was not in my best behaviour. I say to myself and to them that all the achievements we gain in our lives help us deal with the challenges.

All my activities and social interactions such as being with friends, family and sports help me to relax, have fun and keep a healthy balance between my everyday life obligations. I'm certain my players will remember me not for how many games that we won but how they taught to not be afraid to try to be better players and people.

WWE Cyber Sunday...

Last night,my brother, my friend Daniel and I was at Le Skratch Bar in Pierrefonds for a Pay-Per-View event WWE Cyber Sunday (wrestling match). It was very exciting Triple H defeated Jeff Hardy again for the third time for the WWE Championship belt and Batista beated Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight title... There was a lot of excitement during the event at the bar my friend took a couple drinks with my brother and I only took one bottle of Coors Light. I did not experience purple leisure because I was the one responsible for driving everyone back home and I had work early the next day. But I still had a good time!!

Oakley Sales...

On my way home last night, I got a call from buddy's Daniel asking me to go an Oakley sales in ville Saint-Laurent with him, the sunglasses company they also have apparel and footwear products. I did not really feel like going because I was a bit tired but I did not have much to do beside sitting in front of a computer or TV. Why not hangout with my friend since I get a chance to do some socialization. On our way there, there was already a huge lineup and we waited for almost two hours outside in the lovely cold water. As we finally got in the warehouse, the place was almost empty. Nothing left and nothing interesting that would caught our eyes but hey I had fun hanging out with my friend even though we walked out from the sales empty hands. I did enjoyed my evening and to me that was leisure.

Back in my activities...

Thank God my mid-terms are done, at least for now but still the semester is not! Oh! well got to keep my head up and work through it. This Monday, I was able to take a little breather away from my focus of studying and get back in action toward my social and enjoyable activities. The Habs were playing against the Florida Panthers. I stood home and watched the game on TV. No live event this time or else it would be too expensive in which I did last time, I went to watched the game at the Bell Centre for my leisure experience assignment. Watching the game from my own comfort at home was still great but obviously there is nothing comparing to the atmosphere at of live hockey. While, the first period was kind of boring because there was no goals scored and second period was better, the score was 1-0 Montreal and heading to the third intermission. My brother called me to come pick him up from school because him too was kind of missing the game. On my way to pick him up I tuned into the radio station that broadcasted the game which allowed me to keep up with the statists of the game while I was driving. It was also very cool to listen to the game with brother over the radio because we cannot see the plays but we were anticipating for a goal every time the commentator starts yelling, we assumed that there was goal but it was a missed or the goalie blocked the shot. Finally, the Canadiens scored their second and third goals when we were on our way home. The final score was 3-1 for Montreal. I was happy and so did my brother. I was still able to experience leisure while listening to the hockey game at the sametime I was driving.

Mid-term constraint...

So little time this week to keep up with some of my usual activities because I had to study for my mid-term tests. We had a long weekend that was cool...!!! On the other hand, I was stuck studying for my tests and I had to turn down some of my friends' invitation for some social activity as well as spending time with my girlfriend, playing basketball and checking out shoes. Mainly my focus was all toward my study and I did not experienced leisure for sure at time. I was in a state of mind of concentration of working-study and I did not felt any enjoyment out of it but more likely anxiety would better describe my attitude.

Back to my blogging session...

Well, well, well... little break after my first blog summary and now back to business. Earlier tonight I was studying a bit for my upcoming mid-term for my Leisure Education class. While I was studying, I felt kind of tired, wanted to take a nap and get up later and continue instead I went to play some basketball in the city of Saint-Laurent where I coach basketball. I was running with the senior men's team. The guys that I played with in the past asked me if I was going to join the team this year and I told them I won't be able things are different for me these days because school, work, girlfriend and coaching. Two, three practices and plus games during the week that a lot of time and commitment. I cannot make it guys... The reason why I was able to go play tonight it's because I needed to get my body moving and refresh my mind off my everyday life obligations. That was the only main reason why I went to play ball tonight. After a good workout, I felt good and less tired than earlier in the evening. Now, I hitting the bed soon.