Yes, it is here. The holiday season is now over, and most leagues are more than half way through the regular season schedule. To be sure, the year it is a long one.
It is the long year for the Coaches and the players. But it is also the long year for the scouts.
A good friend of mine recently said, “It all starts with scouting. Being in the field.” As I write I know that many of my colleagues have returned home after a long weekend of scouting, only to prepare to leave once again in a few days for more. It is the thankless job in many cases. It is the behind the scenes job that few people know.
But at the end of the regular season it becomes that much more important for everyone.
This is the season when decisions are made. Is he a prospect? What is the upside? Can he carry the compete level to the end of the regular season and through the playoffs? Has he reached his peak?
So many questions to be answered. To be sure those answers can only be given by the player.
With the end of the regular season you are setting yourself up for the next season. You are making the statement of whether or not you are worthy to move on, or you have come to the top of where you should be.
Of course there will be the tired days. The days where it hurt to get out from the bed. This is how it should be and will always be.
To finish the regular season, you must not only play for the sake of the game being scheduled. You must push yourself further. You must see beyond your numbers or the team numbers and reach for a new level. The scouts are tired too, but they are watching. How will you finish?
Coach
