Page 19 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 2

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Senior Moment: Bob Thompson: If You Are On The Team,

You Play

By Terry Tinkess

If you asked the average sports fan
what well-known coach is known as “The
Hoodie,” they would tell you Bill Belichick
of the NFL’s New England Patriots, who is

notorious for wearing hooded sweatshirts.

However, anyone who has played high
school basketball or attended a basketball
camp in the United Counties of Stormont,
Dundas and Glengarry would probably
tell you that “The Hoodie” is now-retired
teacher Bob Thompson, who, like Belichick,

is seldom seen hoodless.

Thompson, like Belichick, is the
consummate coach: he like to win, but sees
the value in competing. He can evaluate Some people wear their heart on their sleeve, but Bob Thompson wears his passion on
his t-shirt. For Thompson, basketball and coaching young players has been a life-long
talent, but also believes that if you are
labour of love. Photo by Terry Tinkess
chosen to be part of a team, you have a right
to expect to play. It is that belief that got him
(N.Y.), coached the Upper Canada Ice Girls It is obvious that Bob Thompson is a
involved in coaching basketball in the first
basketball team, and at one time Cornwall/ coach who truly enjoys what he does. He
place.
United Counties basketball as well. All told, says he has coached a lot of memorable
“I was watching a high school game when he has been involved in the game for about 37 kids, but won’t name them because to
I first started to teach,” says Thompson. years. (I didn’t coach the two years I was out name one would exclude someone else,
“And the coach had about 12 players on the west because they didn’t have a program,” and that isn’t the way he does things.
team and was only playing seven of them. says Thompson. He says that the young people he has
Later, when I walked by the office, I told the encountered in sport are all good
Thirty-seven years is a long time, but
principal that if they ever needed a basketball
Thompson says that he hasn’t noticed that “When you’re looking at the difference
coach to let me know.
much of a change in the athletes he coaches. in people, when you look at sports, you
“I strongly believe that if you’re on a “A lot of people say that young people today get the good ones,” says Thompson.
team, you should play. If you’re not going have changed, but I don’t think that much “They wouldn’t be there if they didn’t
to play, you shouldn’t be on the team. Just has changed,” he says. “I think there are want to and even the players who might be
don’t have people sitting on the bench.” more athletes that have experience playing a problem off the court aren’t a problem
the game before they get into high school. once they step onto the court because they
Thompson, who was a high school teacher
Most young people in the 70’s and 80’s didn’t want to be there, they want to play.”
at Rothwell- Osnabruck (RO) has coached
even see a basketball until they got into high
all the high school age levels (both boys and Maybe they see that someone sees this
school, but now there are programs even for
girls), travelling teams and has run a number in them and appreciates their effort, that
tiny, little kids, so they have played before.
of successful basketball camps in this area someone has made them feel like they
That is different.”
since 1992. He has also run camps in Potsdam belong.

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