Co-Curricular

Holding Rhythm – Force vs Feel 

Last week, I wrote about rhythm in the context of being in time and tune as our summer sports and performing arts seasons begin. 

That kind of rhythm was evident on Saturday as our First V Basketball took to the court against St Stanislaus’ College. Basketball, by nature, is an intense and dynamic game. It’s a sport of constant stop-start, where momentum is fragile and a few seconds can swing the energy of a fixture. Fouls, time-outs, substitutions, and clock stoppages interrupt flow. It demands not only skill, but emotional control and collective composure.

Like in most sports – think golf especially – you can’t force performance in basketball. Trying too hard, or thinking too much, creates frustration and doubt. Legendary coach, Phil Jackson (think Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, who he led to NBA Championships) once said, “In basketball, as in life, rhythm is everything. You can’t force it – you have to feel it.”

Our boys led all game, mostly maintaining a comfortable double-digit advantage through three quarters. Yet, just before the end of the third, in the space of 30 seconds, Stannies hit a three-pointer, pressured a steal, and suddenly the lead had shrunk to five. Moments like that can easily derail a team as panic sets in, structure dissolves, and momentum vanishes – they start trying to force it.

But St Pat’s steadied. They refocused on what had been working (or what seemed to be, as a courtside observer) – movement and aggressiveness inside the paint on offense, composed communication, and fast breaks on transition – and re-established the rhythm that had carried them all game. They finished strong, closing out the win through a controlled and composed fourth quarter that showed trust in each other and the coaching staff.

Watching from the sideline, Acting Principal, Mr Byrne was living every second of it. With each rebound, each shot attempt, and every ‘and-one’ call, he seemed to ride the same rhythm as the players. Even from the bench and stands, passion and presence help bind a team, a sport, and a school community together.

We saw that same spirit in the week leading up to Saturday, as we announced and presented our Co-Curricular Summer Sport and Cultural Captains – our Ensemble and Theatre Captains will guide their peers through upcoming performances, productions and showcases. Each of these sport and cultural captains, in their own way, have already shown that leadership is not about volume or position, but about timing; knowing when to speak, when to listen, and how to support or bring others along.

Whether it’s a final-quarter timeout or a final act performance, the lesson is the same: rhythm is built through trust. When we play, act, sing, or serve in tune with others, we feel our way to success. We can create something greater than the sum of our parts. 

I hope that all boys currently involved in co-curricular activities at the College enjoy the pace of the upcoming weeks and continue to experience growth and development in all aspects of their chosen pursuits.

Adam Watson

Director of Co-Curricular

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”                                                                                                                                                  Ecclesiastes 3:1