Ian Lester

Sports fanatic, Basketball referee, love all sports especially golf. Madly in love with my gorgeous wife and very happy x #RAPTC #Basketballengland

[Jason Helmes @anymanfitness]

Last year, my daughter got cut from her 7th grade volleyball team.

She made the first cut, and thought she had a good chance. But on the second and final cut, they called her name, and she put her head down and walked out to the car where her mom and I were waiting.

She opened the car door, sat down, and started bawling. It was so hard to watch. She wanted to be on that team more than anything. I thought she was good enough, but the coach didn't.

My heart went out to her. But we didn't sugarcoat things for her. We told her we understood how much it stings. I've been cut before. Her mom had been cut from sports before, too. It's an ego shot and a gut punch.

We told her to go ask the coach what she could work on for next year. The coach gave her good feedback. And told her she was the "first girl cut". Which sounded promising, but only added to the sting. She said to me, "If only I had been a little bit better and made a few more serves..."

We told her she had a few choices. She could let this be the end. Or she could use this as fuel and fire. And to use it as motivation to work hard to make the team next year.

For a solid year, she practiced 4-5 times per week minimum. She went to every camp, every practice session she could find, found a travel team she could play on, and spent her entire summer at camps, practices, or in our backyard smashing the volleyball against our house (and denting our siding lol).

She had her tryouts this week. In the first tryout, she unleashed her new jump serve and hit 20 straight volleyballs over the net. The coaches were stunned. She said all the coaches came up to her immediately in the first 5 minutes with their clipboards and said, "What's your name?"

They started using her as a demonstrator, saying "Hey, Brooklyn, can you show everyone how to do this?" Even over the returning starters.

I asked her how she did when she got back. "Hey, you've been around a lot of volleyball in the last year. How did you do? Were you in the upper half of the players?"

She's a humble girl. And she proudly said, "I was the best player on the court."

She made the team, obviously. I'm beaming as a father this week.

I told her how proud I was of her. But not just because she made the team, or she's a great player now. But because she didn't give up. She didn't cry about it (after that first day). She didn't ask mom and dad to go lobby for her to be on the team.

She got after it and worked hard for a full year, taking no breaks. Her other volleyball friends were for sure taking it easier. Chilling out and vibing during the summer. She was attending camps and practicing and getting better while they were relaxing.

Sometimes as a parent, you hope you're teaching your kids how to do things.

But this was a case where she taught me how to do things. 100%.

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@GolfDigest Not holed, embedded ball.

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@DeepDiveRef Definately illegal not set and clearly still moving

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@RichardBurgon Why would he need to he is trying to run our country. Would that have any bearing on his job.

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@DeepDiveRef Neither L or C arrive in time to get the right angle to make the call

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@scarr_tom

[TaylorMadeGolfEurope @TaylorMadeTour]

GIVEAWAY | Fancy winning a Mystery Christmas Box? We're giving one of our followers a chance to get their hands on an early Christmas present!

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[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@kelvmackenzie An inquiry which will cost more money!

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@SensibleName But hey if it offends vegans great you don’t want their custom anyways as they won’t be buying your products! WTF! What a bunch of crap!

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@K74Marti Definitely a sign of age my friend😂

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@K74Marti At least you poached the eggs Marty

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@rodleach1 A gorgeous house Rod! What is making you leave?

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@DanJarvisMP Merry Christmas Dan. Hope you and the family have a great Christmas. 🎄🎅🏻🍻

[Peter Finch @PeterFinchGolf]

OMG 😱 Win a Set Of BRAND NEW TITLEIST IRONS!!! 😱

TO ENTER: ❤️ and retweet + follow me and @TitleistEurope

Closing date for entries is December 31st. Winner announced in the new year ❤️
Giveaway also available on my Instagram and Facebook!
#FinchNotGrinch

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@cj_dinenage @FDinenage @itvmeridian Congratulations on a fantastic career. I remember him from my childhood! How!! @FDinenage

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@ForceAtlantic Happy birthday Scott plenty of extra calories in that cake. Guess you might burn off the calories 😀

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@ForceAtlantic @RAPTC_Official @RAPTC_Corps_SM @PoppyLegion Good luck on what is going to be an epic and fantastic journey we will be following your progress.

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

SHAPE international Basketball Tournament is coming to an end. A great week of officiating with other nations referees. Honoured to be crew chief for the final game USA v France @ArmyBasketball @UKAF_Basketball

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@iaincartergolf Great idea will help to speed up golf and keep a lot of gender identity people happy.

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

Hope Tom Chennell has a great game @CamberleyRFC

[Camberley RFC @Camberleyrfc1]

Just sitting down for the pre match at today’s home match against @HorshamRUFC

[Ian Lester @Lest0701]

@SamNeter Whilst in Germany at a football match a supporter was paid to do that. They built a stand for him and he led all the singing and chanting. Only downside was he didn’t see the game.