Basketball-playing high school seniors try their hand at coaching

For high school seniors Kayla and Mindy Meissner, basketball has been part of their lives since they were very young, starting when they both participated in the annual Elks Hoop Shoot in first grade, later taking part in youth basketball programs and middle school basketball teams. Now, both are experienced players on the Lady Wolves varsity girls basketball team.

Since they both share a passion for the sport and work well together, they decided to approach it from a different perspective than their past years as players.

For their senior project, the Meissners served as assistant coaches to volunteer head coach Adrienne McLaughlin in Parks and Recreation's 2023 youth basketball program, which consisted of 60 kids from September to November.

"Mainly fourth and fifth graders," said Kayla. "We've both played basketball for a long time and did the youth basketball program, so we wanted to help those guys in coming up because they're going to be the people who come up next into middle school and high school and play basketball."

McLaughlin said Parks and Recreation's sports programs for kids are always in need of volunteers. "And when the youth are the ones that come and step up, it pushes the parents to move in that direction to step up and take a role in their kids' education/sports."

The shift from player to coach presented the Meissners with new challenges. "We had to explain stuff more in depth other than just being able to show them how to do it," said Mindy. "You've got to explain to them multiple times."

"Especially playing at a different level," said Kayla.

Coaching has taught them patience and responsibility, but Kayla and Mindy agreed that the main goal was about teaching kids the basics of the game.

"It was cool to see the kids work together and learn a new skill," said Kayla. "And watching them penetrate that into the game was cool, when you're teaching them that at practice, and seeing them actually use that."

Both also said this new role of working with young children has provided them with new perspective and appreciation for their own coaches. "We're used to being coached, but having to be the ones to teach them, that was really different," Kayla said.

Their most rewarding part of the experience for the high school seniors was watching the kids play basketball games and have fun, while the most challenging aspect was getting the grade schoolers to pay attention in practice.

After graduation, both have plans to attend Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Kayla plans to study nursing while Mindy wants to major in business.

Both will miss playing sports and hanging out with friends while at high school. However, neither will miss their math classes.