I had the privilege of coaching my son during his high school basketball career. During one season, he was chosen to play in an all-star game at a gym located out of town. I found a place near the top of the bleachers to enjoy the game, and of course, I was being a good parent coaching from the stands. (LOL) As the game started, I was talking to my son, who was playing in the game, telling him to Block Out, Rebound, Play Defense, etc. Even though I am typically a loud person, especially with all the years of coaching, I was speaking in a relatively calm voice. During one of the exchanges with my son, the gentlemen beside me said, "Excuse me, are you talking to me?" I apologized and explained that #44 on the court was my son, and I was talking to him.

He did not believe my son could hear me in such a noisy environment, so I proved it to him. I told my son to box out on the next shot and asked if he had heard me. The man beside me could not believe it when my son gave the thumbs-up sign that he heard me. The secret: I had coached my son for so many years he knew my voice and could distinguish it from all the other voices and sounds in the gym. All the noise and commotion were not too much for him to miss my voice. He knew to listen for my voice above all other noises.