Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Goodson.
Hi Ryan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Authenticity is what I hope to share with my story. Authenticity takes courage and I haven’t always been courageous. Maybe you can relate? Before I share my story I am convicted to begin in a different way. How can I possibly tell my story without telling His story first? I was once lost, decaying and digging a grave for myself. Lost in my own sin. Lost in serving myself and not Him and it left me in destruction. But, God found me, called me by name and came to my rescue. Jesus Christ is my LORD and Savior and Praise God that the Holy Spirit is alive and active in me today. I have tasted the fruits of His spirit and nothing in this world can compare. Praise be to God. I exist to give God glory and I pray that my basketball business is a reflection of that. Apart from Christ, I am nothing. With Christ, all things are possible.
I am a basketball trainer, author and showman and reside in Marietta, Georgia. I started my basketball business back in 2009 and I love to teach the game and inspire others. God has been at work in me and in my business from the start. There’s an image that we all try cultivate online and then there’s the reality. My online image will show you that I’ve got some flashy basketball skills, that I travel the world training players and have worked with and around some of the NBA”s best. That’s the glamorous and superficial part. The reality is I’ve had 8 knee surgeries and most days that I’m on the court I’m in chronic pain and a shell of my former self. I deal and have dealt with a chronic illness that at times takes all of my energy and requires me to shut down my day and just sleep. I’ve also suffered personal and spiritual defeats that have left great scars. But God is good and my victory is in Him. He has walked this road with me and given me great comfort. Comfort that defies all understanding. He’s also blessed me with my amazing wife who continually is an inspiration and reminder of His great love. But despite these trials, I’ve been given an amazing business and platform to help kids. Instead of focusing on the NBA players that I’ve trained, the globetrotting, the tv appearances or any other worldly accolade that seeks only to impress; let’s just examine a few personal stories of the true fruit of my labor as a basketball trainer. May God receive all the glory.
1. There have been many players that I’ve trained that have suffered from autism or some form of social anxiety that leaves them feeling like an outsider and insecure about how they can fit in. They were all quiet, shy and in their shell. They looked to escape, held back tears and desperately wanted their parents to come and rescue them from this torment. In time, I watched these same players transform and become liberated. True transformations occurred time and time again! Because of love and community. Community really isn’t a good word to describe it. They became my family. They felt loved, accepted and seen. I met them where they were, never pushed them but only pulled them with encouragement. Always with a smile. Always with an affirmation. Some of these young men and women transformed into the best leaders I’ve ever had in my gym and took this newly gained confidence into their everyday lives. They have blessed my life and we shared a special journey together that I hope will be a continuous source of strength and courage as they face future anxieties and uncertainties. If any of those players are reading this, remember that you overcame before and you will rise above again. Coach loves you and is always here to help.
2. I hope this personal story brings you the child-like joy and restoration that it brought me. I once did a basketball camp in Virginia and had completed a full 6 hour day in the gym, only to realize that I had forgotten about an additional two-hour workout that I had agreed to do. Sigh, why me?? I was tired and ready to go home but I still had another workout ahead of me with a handful of five-year-olds. Why did I agree to this? Can I just cancel? No, I’ve got to do this. So, I reluctantly started the workout and discovered that I couldn’t even get two words into the instruction without the cross talk beginning from the kids. Who was my favorite superhero? Could I dunk? Telling me what they did with their friends earlier that day and etc. You know the types of silly questions right? When it came to their basketball skills they were not only inexperienced but they were terrible. I say that in humor. They couldn’t even bounce the ball two times in a row without losing it, or even catch the ball. Forget about shooting on a ten foot hoop, that could never happen. So there I was with the watchful eyes of parents, trying to figure what in the world am I going to teach these kids the next two hours? Two special events happened that day. One, I became a 5 year old and experienced child-like joy again. The only way to reach children is at their level. I searched in myself for that child-like heart and immediately the children responded. I had the best time of anyone in the gym that day. The kids brought me back to my childhood and taught me to “play” basketball and not “work” basketball. The effect was joy. That has become a staple of the basketball culture that I seek to create in any gym I work in. The other effect was success. These kids experienced a special basketball moment that day. Through what must have been a hundred joyful but missed attempts, I witnessed each child make the first shot of their entire basketball career. I knew it was the first shot by their response as they sprinted straight to their parents for celebratory hugs. Do you know what they wanted to do immediately after celebrating? That’s right, they wanted to make another shot. They were hooked on this joy. Joy is powerful and is the fuel to consistency and a blessing to our soul. Are you weary in your pursuit of your current goal? Recalibrate your heart and find your joy!
3. I’ve witnessed players come to Christ and find salvation in the gym. They came to work on basketball but the true work was on their soul. They became my teammate and joined a team that will never lose. Victory was found in Christ! This victory is available to all of us. There is no try out for this team. There is no required amount of work or level of skill to become worthy. Just come as you are, and receive Christ. He’s done all the work for us. Work we could have never have done on our own.
4. Gratitude: NBA Star Stephen Curry is a part of my basketball story. He hired me in 2011 to direct his prestigious Skills Academy. We worked together training some of the top high school and college basketball players in the country. Many of the players went on to play in the NBA. I was 25 years old, and only two years into being a basketball coach. I was so nervous. My first big opportunity. I was one of the youngest coaches at the camp and yet Steph gave me the responsibility of leading all of the instruction. I think Steph saw how hard I worked at my craft and how hard I worked to prepare for that camp. Although the fruits of that work were not fully developed or always on display at camp, I was still very much a work in progress at the time. Steph somehow saw what was to come and helped to lift me there. He spoke confidence into me and showed confidence by giving me such a huge responsibility. His belief helped me believe. I am forever indebted to Stephen Curry for being a great teammate to me and using his influence to lift me. I am where I am because of people like Stephen Curry. Is there someone that you need to honor and show gratitude to? Are you using your influence and expertise to speak life into others? Every player that walks into my gym has my unbreakable belief in them. I will persistently hold onto that belief until they are ready grab hold of it.
These are just a few of the many stories that I could tell. I’m thankful for all the many players that have trusted in me to help them. As you can see, basketball is what I do but it’s generally not the most significant or rewarding part of my job. I hope you will come and join a basketball workout with me in Atlanta. All are welcome! Let’s work!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road. Injuries have been a struggle for me as a basketball trainer. I love to demonstrate any basketball skill that I teach at a high level. Unfortunately, I’ve had 8 knee surgeries, a dislocated thumb, scratched cornea and hundreds of other nagging injuries over the course of my career. I also had a tough time getting my business off the ground. My first basketball camp only had 4 players attend despite months of marketing efforts. It took time, effort and resiliency to succeed. An affirmation that I always tried to speak to myself was “I can, I will, I must, I have to.”
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My brand offers the following to the Atlanta area:
– 1 on 1 Basketball Workouts
– Basketball Camps
– Team Basketball Workouts
-Online Basketball Training
-At Home Basketball Workouts
-Birthday Parties
-Commercial and TV Work
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was a basketball fanatic. I ate, slept and breathed basketball. I love being on the court and spending time with family.
Contact Info:
- Email: ryan@goodsonbasketball.com
- Website: www.GoodsonBasketball.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ryangoodson23
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ryangoodson23
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/ryangoodson23
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/ryangoodson23
