Organization a big ingredient in recipe for success

There's no question it takes talent and commitment to be a success in sport - as it does in just about every endeavour.

On the other hand, even the best athletes need guidance, from parents, a coach or coaches or even volunteers willing to take the time to provide the “field of dreams” on which our young athletes can excel.

A handful of stories have come across my desk of late that illustrate the importance of good organization.

I noticed four members of the hugely-successful Northeast Kings Badminton Club - Blake Brown, Jacobi and Tineke Vanderweit and Claire MacDougall - qualified to compete at the national level later this month.

The NKBC also stood out big-time at the club, provincial as well as the Atlantic championship level; and, with members split up into their various schools, in NSSAF competition at the district, regional and provincial level.

I won't mention any other individual names - not because I've written enough about them already, but it's a lengthy list and I don't want to leave out anyone deserving; suffice it to say, these kids are flat-out talented.

I'm a firm believer a significant part of being talented comes directly from the Big Guy. Another part is commitment: you won't ever get better at anything without practice.

I also feel, though, there is great benefit to be derived from being part of an organization, especially one that cares about its members and is committed to success. This, along with the obvious talent, is the secret of the NKBC and other clubs like it. A successful organization truly is the sum of all its parts.

At the same time, that's not to say NKBC coaches Gary MacDougall and John Vanderweit, along with passing on some pretty decent badminton genes to their respective offspring, don't deserve credit for being the glue that holds the club together.

Yes, it's the athletes who do the playing, the practicing - and ultimately, the winning - but people like Gary and John have put a heck of a lot of time and energy into making the NKBC the success it is, and for nothing more than the satisfaction of seeing it happen.

The same can be said for the people who head up the Valley East Basketball Association. Again, I'm not going to single out every individual, but you know who you are. More importantly, I know who you are - and so does anyone who plays basketball in this area.

VEBA is fully committed to providing the best possible basketball experience for its young athletes. In its relatively short history, this has included annual trips to basketball camps and clinics in the U.S., participation in tournaments up to and including provincials and, in the case of some, the chance to compete at the International Children's Games.

This summer, VEBA is taking a group of young basketball players to Hawaii to play. How many other sports associations are willing to make that kind of a commitment? Now, granted, not many are going to turn down a trip to Hawaii, but you have to admire the level of commitment, both from the parents and from the organiztion, that makes opportunities like this possible.

It should also come as no surprise some of the people who are involved in the organization of VEBA are some of the same people who are behind the Kings County Basketball Academy, which should also have a significant impact before it's done.

The other day, I heard that VEBA was bringing in former U.S. college coach and current Boston Celtics scout Mike Mennenga to conduct a two-day clinic for youth, as well as a clinic for local coaches. This is another example of the innovation and foresight that makes groups so special.

I hope our young people realize just how lucky they are to have such support in their corner - the opportunity to receive instruction from a Mike Mennenga, a Dominic Soong, a Bev Greenlaw or Charlie Scarrow. But, you know, I get the feeling at least most of them already do.