March Madness is over (thank goodness)! What a game last night!! North Carolina beat Gonzaga 71-65. It was a nail-biter for anyone who watched. As a die-hard Tar Heel fan, this game was tough to watch especially after Villanova’s buzzer beater win last year over the Heels. Marcus Paige said it best last night in a Tweet, “Watching as a fan is way more stressful than playing.”
Both teams battled through poor shooting, Joel Berry II played with two hurt ankles, Williams-Goss played through injury, there were too many foul calls, missed foul shots and it was a sloppy, ugly battle between two No. 1 seeds.
Both Roy Williams and Mark Few along with their players took the high road and refused to blame the officiating crew. In fact, Mark Few said, “Those were three of the best officials in the entire country—NBA, college or anything.” The coaches and players showed qualities that matter on and off the court. They exhibited “soft skills” like: grit, perseverance, optimism, humility and self-control.
As parents, we can turn the pregame parties and post game celebrations into real life lessons for our children that will stick long after the buzzer sounds. We can use the game as a “teachable moment” to:
- Let our children struggle and fail so they can learn to manage failure and learn from mistakes.
- Give our children opportunities to experience disappointment and frustration. Encourage them to keep trying and to do their best.
- Encourage our children to practice and work hard. This is what develops grit, perseverance, patience and discipline.
- Show our children how to be courteous and humble and take the high road no matter what life throws your way.
Research tells us these “soft skills” are highly predictive to success in school, life and the workplace. And these skills begin during the early childhood years. Last night was a great night to be a Tar Heel, but it was also a great night to be a Zag.
Lisa Howard President & CEO