LIFE: Perspectives from Mt. Whitney
Life is all about perspective, isn’t it? And the experiences we share can be similar or different, depending on our perspective of life, and on what is happening within us. This summer I climbed Mt. Whitney with my daughter, her fiance’ and their friends. I wrote about the climb in, One Step at a Time, and Charli’s wrote about it at Charli’s Chronicles. Both stories are, all at once alike, and wildly different. Enjoy!
One Step at a Time
I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, but I didn’t care. I had felt numb inside since my dad’s death, and I figured a good hike might clear my mind. I had been given the opportunity to summit Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states. A grand mountain. One built of formidable white granite spires that lift skyward to a place where headaches reign and each breath is slow and heavy. A mountain that has no glaciers or crevasses, but does have jagged peaks, and trails with dazzling carved out cliffs where a single misstep could be fatal. More than a hike, really, an experience of a lifetime.
The Whitney Portal trailhead is at 8,000 feet, the height when elevation sickness typically occurs. I would be hiking with my 28-year-old daughter and her friends. I was worried about slowing them down. The months before Mt. Whitney, I had increased my walking, and tried to sneak in a quick hike at Rattlesnake Ledge or Tiger Mountain here and there. But life had been busy, nine months early I had watched my dad die, and I was in the process of helping my mom get my childhood house ready to sell. I was now in what many call the Sandwich Years, the transition time of […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Carmen Cruz on Connection, Team Culture and Finding Her People
I was eager to talk to Carmen Cruz, an athlete at the University of Puget Sound, thinking that an interview with an incoming freshman would give a good perspective for young readers. A peek into the first few months of college when things can be new and exciting, and also overwhelming. Especially as an athlete. And what I found in Carmen, was a young woman who was prepared for the change. Maybe not knowingly, but I sensed a strength in her to find the positive, in any situation. When we spoke, she was hoping to finally be cleared to practice again after having sustained a concussion earlier in the season. But, when I asked her about the time she’d spent off the court, and the scrimmage that she’d missed, she wasn’t too concerned, her focus was on her new team, how well they had played, and the future they all had together.
In high school Carmen was one of the top 3-point shooters in Washington State, making fifty 3-point baskets in her final season at West Seattle High School. She averaged 13.4 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game and 2.5 steals per game her senior year and played AAU with Friends of Hoops.
UPDATE: Since our interview UPS has had two games, and Carmen got to play. The team didn’t come away with wins, but they are a young team, and this is preseason, so I’m looking forward to watching them grow. In the first contest, Carmen scored 16 points, and had 1 block, 1 steal, and 1 assist in 18 minutes against Ripon College. Then two days later she went 4 of 5 from the field, 2 of 2 from the free-throw line, and finished with 13 points versus Christopher Newport University, the 9th ranked NCAA […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: The No Trophy Coach
When my son was young I heard him explain to a friend, “I would have twice as many trophies, but my mom coaches me some of the time.” It made me smile. I coached my kids in youth basketball, T-ball and flag football. And when I was head coach at the youth level, they never got a trophy, nor did any of the other athletes on the team. I wanted all of the kids to play because they wanted to play, not because they were going to get a trophy.
I wanted them to have fun.
In my opinion participation trophies are a waste. The athlete is always excited about the trophy when they first get it, and then they’re not. It’s just another trophy on the shelf that takes up space, collects dust and then eventually finds it’s way to a garbage can.
There are better ways to encourage kids to play sports.
Why Some Coaches Give Participation Trophies
Many coaches give out trophies because it is what’s expected. Nearly every youth team does it and that sets a precedent. Coaches wouldn’t want the athletes on their team to feel left out or “less than” because they didn’t receive one. Some coaches believe that by earning a trophy an athlete learns about and is encouraged to be active.
There is evidence in child psychology that says there are benefits of positive reinforcement, especially in younger children, that giving a child a reward for their efforts is great, because it shows them the value of showing up, working hard, and being a contributor to the team.
But is a trophy really the right positive reinforcement?
Why I Didn’t Give Trophies
I wanted the athletes that I coached to play for the love of the game. It was my job to teach them how to play the sport and make […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Playing Overseas, Lydia Giomi Finds Self-Confidence and a True Connection to the Game
Photo credit: Luis Garcia Rodriguez
After chatting with Lydia Giomi about her life as a professional basketball player for Ensino, in Lugo, Spain, and diving into her past as a high school and college athlete, I was surprised to hear that she had often struggled with self-confidence. Having coached Lydia in high school, I know that her basketball skills, as well as her positive attitude, were an integral part of West Seattle’s success, yet throughout most of Lydia’s lifetime she didn’t always feel that she belonged on the court. I’m excited to share more about Lydia’s journey and how her time in Spain has helped her to find balance and build confidence, both on and off the court.
Lydia has been playing professional basketball in Spain for four years. Before playing overseas, she played for the University of Oregon where she was part of three straight Pac-12 regular-season championship teams, and two Pac-12 Tournament Championship teams. She finished her Oregon career with 259 total points (Career shooting percentage 57.9%), 125 rebounds, 29 blocks, 24 steals and 21 assists, helping Oregon to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including the program’s first-ever Final Four in 2019. She also won a USA Basketball 3×3 National Title in 2019, playing with Sabrina Ionescu, Ruthy Hebard and Oti Gildon.
At West Seattle High School Lydia was a Two-Time Metro League MVP. During her senior year she averaged 15.2 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 2.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game and was named to the All-State team. As a junior she averaged 14.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3 blocks per contest and was named to the 2015 Seattle Times All-Star team and the All-State team. She helped West Seattle go undefeated in league, win the Metro League Tournament Title and go on to place 5th in state. Lydia […]
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
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PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: 4 Must Watch Basketball Movies
I’m a sucker for a great basketball movie. As a high school coach, I had “movie night” each season so that the team could bond over an inspiring sports story. Here are four oldies but goodies that are inspired by true stories. Powerful movies that you’ve got to watch.
In 1965, Texas Western Coach Don Haskins recruits a team based on talent rather than race, and even though the team is winning, the conservative community is upset about it. Learn more about Texas Western’s challenges on the way to the NCAA Tournament in this powerful movie based on a true story.
Believe in Me is the story of a girl’s basketball team in a small Oklahoma community during the mid-1960’s who want to play basketball just as much as the boys do. The movie, based on the book, Brief Garland: The True Story of coach […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: How To Motivate Your Team
Motivating your team starts before the season even begins. It starts by figuring out how you can create a team-focused, positive environment where the players will thrive. Setting expectations and goals for practice and games is part of that process, but remember just that, it is a process. Though I will touch on some game-day ideas to help motivate your team, truly motivating your team happens throughout the year.
Create A Positive Environment
Creating a positive environment starts with the way that you talk to your players. Be positive and encourage players while you coach them. When a player makes a mistake remind yourself that they are trying to do it right. Don’t get angry, figure out how you can do your job better and keep teaching them until they improve. Another good reminder to help you be positive and patient is, that even the best players make mistakes.
Spread positive energy wherever […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: 4 Things You Must Do To Play Great Helpside Defense
Helpside defense is the key to great team defense. Teams need to work together to be effective and dominate the court, and in order to do so, each player must pay attention to the person who they’re guarding, as well as the rest of the court. If you’re not guarding the person with the basketball, you’re expected to help your teammates.
Generally, the farther away you are from the ball, the more you should be available to help. If you’re just one pass away, you will often be asked step up and deny the passing lane (I’ll cover deny defense in another blog), but depending on which level you’re playing and your coach’s specific rules, sometimes, even one pass away, you may play helpside defense. If you’re not guarding the ball (or asked by your coach to faceguard a player), these tips will help you become a better defender and ultimately […]
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