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Emily Jaminet reminisces about her father's belief that both athletes and fans can learn from watching elite athletes in competition.

I grew up in a family where sports were viewed as instrumental to helping us grow as individuals. My father in particular believed there was much to learn from participating in sports and from watching those at the top of their game. Sports provide a patchwork of experiences and lessons to be learned not only by athletes, but fans as well. 

In my teenage years, often, after hanging out with friends, I would come home to find my dad watching games or highlight reels from the day's contests, and invariably as I sat with him intending to stay for only a few minutes to say goodnight he would begin to recount a game or a story from a player’s life and 20 or 30 minutes would pass by before I knew it. He worked hard to “pass on the inspiration” and always encouraged us to see the connection between sports, success and life.

Wisdom could be gained not only through the great moments of success like an underdog winning the Sweet Sixteen Tournament or National Championship but also through witnessing good sportsmanship being gracefully exhibited after a challenging loss. We were challenged to appreciate that exercising your God-given talents to the best of your ability was noble in itself, regardless of the outcome. 

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Viewing The House That Rob Built reminded me of the pivotal role sports has played in my life and how instrumental great coaches have been in molding me into the person I am today. This powerful documentary portrays how Rob Selvig invested nearly 40 years of his life to build a women’s college basketball program from the ground up. He saw basketball for these athletes, who came from farms, ranches, and reservations throughout the West, as more than just a game, but as an opportunity to gain an education and have a bright future. Through his efforts, he not only accomplished this goal but also helped to advance athletics for women by rallying fans behind them and building a program the community could be proud to watch and cheer along to victory. 

I found it inspiring to see how coach Rob, through his vision and dedication, was able to unleash excellence in these young women that played out in their lives for years to come. One could clearly see the gratefulness of the players when listening to them speak about their College Basketball Coach many years later. Even after many years, his legacy lives on in the success of these ladies' lives, the dedication of the fans, and even the growth and popularity of women’s basketball. 

As I sat and watched this documentary with my children, it brought tears to my eyes to ponder not only how far women’s basketball has come, but how one person can rise to lead others to greatness. One of Rob’s best qualities was that he knew how to coach people to the point of excellence without “breaking them.” What a great lesson for parents. How can we unleash the greatness in our own children by challenging them, while taking care to love them and help them? 

The House That Rob Built demonstrates how the successes of a great team like the Lady Griz can impact us all. The documentary is an invitation to slow down and appreciate sports and the many coaches, mentors, and leaders who have walked along with us in our life journey. It highlights how a great coach doesn’t just teach the skills of the game, but also life skills that can last a lifetime.

We were challenged to appreciate that exercising your God-given talents to the best of your ability was noble in itself, regardless of the outcome. #catholicmom

This article is part of a special Catholic Mom series on the new Family Theater Productions documentary, The House That Rob Built.

View the trailer:

 

About the film:

The inspiring story of Rob Selvig, pioneering coach of the University of Montana’s Lady Griz basketball team. In an era when gender discrimination in sports was the norm, Coach Selvig built a "house" of inclusion and empowerment by recruiting female athletes from the ranches, farms and Native reservations of Big Sky Country. For nearly 40 years, these athletes would establish the preeminent women’s basketball program west of the Rockies. (TheHouseThatRobBuiltMovie.com)

 

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Copyright 2021 Emily Jaminet
Images: TheHouseThatRobBuiltMovie.com/Family Theater Productions, all rights reserved, used with permission; Canva Pro