How easy is it to get back to grind?

  I’ve stopped watching games since the MICAA days after I concluded that whether it is Yco or Ysmael or Utex that wins, viewing the games over black and white TV elicits thrill. Victorious if it’s a win, pain for loss. The rivalry between Crispa-Toyota years after validated the see sawing emotional reactions of a victory and defeat. To avoid pain, don’t get involved.

Recently, through the intercession of a professional colleague, I was asked as an enterprise trainer to provide input in designing a bonding session to a collegiate basketball team.

That exposure led to a series of interactions making me ask, how easy is it to get back to the grind these days in the digitals’ and millennials’ era?

The teams are professionally run. There is science to their play. Strategies are in place and clear to all. (1) Teams are supported by a clear organizational structure. (2) Routines are in place and managed. (3) Stats are systematically and digitally derived for key results management. Resources are not the player’s concern. Roles and responsibilities are formally and informally clear. Processes are respected. Skills development is given importance. (4) Rewards are great with sanctions for non performing players. (5) Productivity is always looked at for enhancement.

Watching the games in venues other than Araneta Coliseum is pleasant. Sound and lighting systems are excellent, officiating is fair and the energy is high care of the large cheering crowd.

What reinforces the learning process which is unique in this era is the emerging of young annotators providing not only statistics and highlights but an analysis of the games from their perspective as spectators, ex-players, or sports enthusiasts. Responses are posted real time in Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

When you get home, you review the games in a large high definition screen reinforcing appreciation. Scenes you want seen can be viewed repeatedly.

How easy is it to get back to the grind? Easy these days especially if friends sit you at the VIP area to watch the opening game. How easy is it to transform a performing team to a high performing team? That is the challenge. As one coach said, even if the elements are in place, there is a competing team. “Bilog ang bola.” (The ball is round.) What is universal is there is pain in loss, joy in a win.