Embracing ‘the grind’

Author Jason Calabrese shared his journey of writing “Boost Your Basketball I.Q.” with an intimate audience at the Kent Memorial Library on Thursday, Aug. 8.

In an era when young players are often captivated by flashy individual plays, like dribbling or shooting, Calabrese emphasizes the importance of mastering the fundamentals. Through his writing and coaching, Calabrese aims to instill in young athletes a mindset that embraces “the grind.” He believes that the dedication required in sports can be easily applied to real life.

Calabrese’s unique perspective as a player, coach, and parent allows him to address the needs of athletes, coaches, and families alike.

“One of the things I think that I do that brings up a unique perspective is I am not only a former basketball coach, and I’m a former player, I am also a parent of kids who play basketball. So I can come at it from three different perspectives,” Calabrese stated.

Calabrese emphasized the importance of fostering a relationship between parent, child, and coach that produces accountability on and off the court. He alluded to a common tension between parents and coaches, where parents become displeased with the amount of playing time their child may be getting.

He puts forth the notion that these conflicts can be resolved with a conversation surrounding the child’s discipline habits. With this in mind, parents can move forward with a plan that encourages hard work and doesn’t discourage them from playing the sport.