Final Summer 2016 Blog: Michael Tehan (Loudoun Eagles)

 Final Summer Blog:  Michael Tehan (Loudoun Eagles) 

I can’t believe my PYBL season is already over.  It seems like just yesterday when my AAU coach told me about trying out for the summer season.  As I said in my first blog, his son who is one of my best friends played over the winter and I really wanted to be a part of it.  I think it’s so cool how they post all of that stats and pictures about each game.  But getting caught up in that,  also lowered my confidence.  

Sometimes I over hyped kids that were scoring 20 a game, and it made me feel so much pressure to compete with those stats.  I was scared of making a mistake, and I had no confidence to go to the basket on bigger kids. I was always worried about getting blocked or turning the ball over.   My dad was always telling me, “just play!”  Sometimes that frustrated me because I thought I was playing my game, but I wasn’t.  I was playing not to make a mistake.  I didn’t fight to bring the ball up and when I did get the ball I looked to pass first.  I didn’t want to admit it because I always had played with such confidence in the past.  

As the season went on though, I started to gain confidence.  I was taking the ball to the basket, I was going to the rack on big men and I wasn’t scared to guard the other teams best guard.  I realized during the game against Charles County, that I deserved to be on the court as much as any other kid there.  I could play with them all! Looking back, I shouldn’t have been worried about the rankings and stats.  I should have just played my game the entire season.  

PYBL has been a great experience for me. I am a different player now. This league has by far the most competition I have ever played against. At the end of the day, all you have to do is work hard, believe in yourself and play like it.

I owe a lot to coach Mason because he always believed in me and pushed me to play harder.  I can’t wait to take what I have learned this summer into the winter season.  

Thanks Michael Tehan #30 Loudoun Eagles