joerik

Another summer around the globe. 🌍

A lot of basketball. A lot of amazing people. A lot of moments I will probably remember forever.

But somehow this summer felt different for me.

I wasn’t constantly thinking about what was next. Where I needed to go. What I needed to build. Or what I still needed to achieve.

I was just there.

Not happy every second. Not everything was perfect. There were difficult days too.
Still learning, still growing, still seeing where I can do better. Still a work in progress.

But underneath all of it, I felt peaceful. And just an enormous trust in life that somehow, everything will be okay.

Learning more and more that maybe a beautiful life isn’t about trying to feel good all the time.

It’s about being fully there for all of it.

Grateful for another unforgettable summer. 🤍

8 times in Canada already, and my 4th Global Game Camp in a row 🇨🇦

What started through basketball has become something much more personal. I’m genuinely always excited to spend time with the Golden Ticket Sports Inc. fam 💯

Thank you for always making me feel at home 🤍

Something I’ve been thinking about for a long time…

As coaches, we can have a huge impact on someone’s journey. But that journey will always belong to the player.

This isn’t about diminishing the role of a coach. It’s about remembering why we coach in the first place.

Would love to hear how other coaches see this.

We spend so much time as coaches studying the game.

New drills. New tactics. New ways to teach, motivate and develop our players.

But how much time do we spend studying ourselves?

The older I get, the more I realize that who we are might influence our players just as much as what we know.

Our energy. Our fears. Our ego. Our reactions. Our presence. The way we make people feel.

So lately I’ve been asking myself different questions.

Not only: How can I become a better coach?

But also:

How does it actually feel to be coached by me?

Maybe some of the most important work we can do as coaches has nothing to do with the game.

It starts with us.

Beyond the Game.

Wade Flash 2 “Vice” ⚡️🩵🩷

On court or off court… these are 🔥

Use code JOERIKWOW for a discount at WAY OF WADE by Dwyane Wade

A few months ago, I came across the Japanese philosophy Ichi-go Ichi-e.

“One time. One meeting.”

For some reason, it immediately stayed with me.

Since then, I’ve started noticing how often I’m not really where I am. My mind jumps to what I have to do in an hour, the next project, tomorrow, or replays conversations that already happened.

I’m still finding it surprisingly hard.

But now, at least, I’m aware of it.

And that awareness has become a little practice.

Every time I catch my mind wandering, I try to gently bring it back.

Back to my breath.
Back to the people around me.
Back to this moment.

I’m far from mastering it. Maybe I never will.

But if I can become just 1% better at being fully present for the people I love, for the conversations I have, for the sunsets I watch, for the life I’m already living. I think that’s a life worth practicing.

So here’s my reminder to myself, and maybe to you too:

Be where your feet are and live in the moment. ❤️

Every year I learn something new.

This year I realized that my passion isn’t just organizing basketball camps.

It’s creating experiences that people never forget.

Seeing players laugh together, challenge themselves, build confidence, make new friends and grow as people... that’s what gives me energy.

Basketball will always be the foundation.

But I believe it can be used for something much bigger.

This week made me even more excited to bring experiences like this to other countries and communities.

Let’s keep building. ❤️🏀

We started this camp with one simple idea.

What if a basketball camp could be about more than just basketball?

We wanted the basketball to be top level.

We challenged the girls with high-level skill development, decision-making, basketball IQ and game situations.

But we also wanted every player to leave with something bigger.

More confidence.
Less fear.
More belief in themselves.
Better habits.
And tools they can use long after basketball.

Because if someone leaves as a better player and a better person...

Then we’ve done our job.

Thank you to every player for trusting us and giving everything you had this weekend. ❤️

A special thank you to the coaching staff of the Belgian Cats for joining us and so openly sharing your knowledge, experience and passion with the next generation. It meant a lot.

This was special. 🏀✨

Julie & Joerik