The trouble with zebras

My understanding of practice and even of basketball games is to teach the kids how to play the game. No matter at what level you play, you can always learn. How do you learn the rules or the correct way to play if no one calls you on your mistakes.
We are not, however, talking about adults. We are talking about children. There are times, when even adults don’t take feedback very well, but if children are going to learn, they need to be called on their mistakes, especially if their mistakes affect other people.
I don’t think the team Reanna’s team played on Saturday could have ever beaten Reanna’s team. They are really playing together and really playing with heart. They know their fundamentals and the hours of practice they have put in really show. They have a couple of plays they do that are unstoppable with kids this age. They have two girls big enough to be centers and each one of them can dominate the key. They have a couple of girls who have amazing shots. They have one adorable little girl who has really come into her own with stealing the ball and others that read the opposing teams plays. They are amazing for fifth graders.
The other team is a fairly new team and I’m okay with the zebra’s calling it one way because of it. However, if they don’t let the other girls know about traveling, how are they going to learn not to? If they don’t explain to them they can’t double dribble, how are they going to learn? As long as zebra’s let them get away with it, they won’t learn. What does that teach Reanna’s team? If they don’t play up to their ability they can get away with traveling and double dribbling? Boy, that’s a fine line. Where do we as adults stand on that fine line?
I’ll tell you right where I stand. My stand is firm and I believe it is the right.
My family is going to see the Harlem Globetrotters tonight where they teach the fine art of traveling, double dribbling being truly tricky in their basketball play. They back talk the zebras and play tricks on them. They do all the things that we teach our kids not to do. I’ll tell you right where I stand. I’ll give you my firm, definitive answer.
Here it is.
“It depends.”