Learning to Win

I've had piano students, who are good students but there is a potential there that can't be heard or seen and yet it is felt. I've pushed and motivated and used incentives to try to get them to that next level.

Winning.

It can be frustrating on both sides. The student feels that they are doing the work. Things just seem to not go their way in festivals or exams but you both keep plugging along learning, developing and hoping.

The preparation is there. The talent is there. And then suddenly.....

.....K A - B L A M – O.....

It all comes together and they break through the barrier like John Chick breaking off the edge for a huge sack.

They've learned how to lose and then they learn how to win.

Our Roughriders are having similar struggles. Coach Chamblin says they just have to correct some things and the team will start winning. I believe it because I can also feel it. I've been Piano Coach and know sometimes it comes down to one correctable issue and then everything clicks. Unfortunately, in music lessons this could take months or seasons and in football we aren't afforded that time and finicky fans want results now.

I'm not sure what the football pundits want to see besides a win like the rest of Rider Nation. The Riders have come close to winning all three games so far. They have been the highest scoring offence in the CFL. The games have been exciting except for the flags that litter every game this season. That “W” is just within reach.

So instead of trying to be rational like the majority of Rider fans and completely over reacting, they need to blame someone because isn't that the way of society lately? Blame someone else. It's Coach Chamblin's fault apparently.

~ shakes head ~

The Saskatchewan Roughriders win as a team and lose as team and that includes all coaches. What happens in the locker room is a bonded brotherhood that none of us on the outside could possibly understand.....and it transcends seasons and years. 
 

YOU should be fired.

Could you imagine?

Don't we all screw up from time to time?

Heck, I broke a piano once and even though we laugh about it now.....it was darn scary at the time, but I retained my job!

The fact is, the three-and-one play in the Lions/Riders game came down to the officiating issue that no measurement was taken and due to the new rules a coach cannot ask for a measurement. What do you do armchair coaches? You are on the sideline and you don't know how far it is to get the down. Do you gamble? Do you kick the field goal? The safe answer, and in my opinion the correct answer, and what Coach Chamblin elected to do is kick the field goal in over time. You have to take the points. If you gamble and don't get it the other team wins anyway.

Maybe you're thinking but it shouldn't have come down to that. I remarked that the last plays reminded me of the similar breakdown of plays in the 09 Grey Cup.

Yeah, I said it.

It was THAT close. The momentum was on the Lions side. The officiating? Well you decide. Sometimes the learning moments come in the losing.

We lost heartbreakingly in 2009. We lost again in 2010. But then we learned how to win in 2013.

Remember those down times. We are on the brink of greatness.

Stay patient.

Stay loyal.

I support Coach Chamblin.

I know he can do it in the same way I knew my piano student would break through this year.

She won this year.