PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Do You Hear Me?
I heard basketballs bouncing outside when I was writing this week. Kids were shooting baskets in our front yard. (Not my kids, but not an uncommon occurrence since we put a basketball hoop in our front yard two years ago). I heard my husband say, “You should be using your left hand on the left side,” before he walked in the house on his way home from work.
I gave him a kiss and then headed to the door. I couldn’t let it go. (No longer a high school coach, but always a coach.) I lined up all three boys on a seam in the concrete. “Ok, pretend you’ve got a string attached from your left knee up to your elbow.” I lifted my arm and brought up my knee. “Like a puppet.” I explained some more. I had them do it with me ten times. They looked at me like I was a crazy, but they obliged me with some puppetry.
“Now let’s try a couple at the basket.” Of course they all ran back about ten yards to get a run at the hoop and I had to corral them in. I would make this a short lesson, I would have plenty more chances to follow-up. “Right here guys. One step from the basket.” I said. “Step with your right, and then go up with your left hand and left knee.” They tried. It was awkward. They missed shots. They didn’t like it.
“That looks great!” I said. Once again they looked at me like I was crazy. “Now every day that you’re on this court I expect you to practice a left-handed lay-in at least ten times. Okay?” I received some hesitant nods and some eye rolling. “I’m not kidding.” I said and then walked […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Basketball & Yoga?
Photo Credit: Jeff Zaruba
Before I play basketball these days it is important for me to warm up a bit, this usually includes some yoga poses. However over the past few months I have found myself running into the gym late and jumping onto the court cold. Funny thing is, I’ve been having more pains and aches and issues. So it’s time for me to find my inner downward dog again. I’ve started by doing more poses at home and then working my way back into my local yoga studio here and there and now I’ve signed up for a Mini Yoga Retreat in May.
The retreat will be led by my friend, and Life Coach, Jenny McGlothern and by certified yoga instructor BJ Weitl.
Fill Your Cup: Mini Yoga Retreat
12:00pm-3:30pm, Sunday May 31, 2015
Bikram Yoga West Seattle, 4747 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA (Retreat NOT Bikram-too hot for me) 😉
“Join Retreat Leader Jenny Gwinn McGlothern & Yoga Instructor BJ Weitl for a Sunday afternoon refill. Refilling your cup doesn’t have to mean a long vacation out of town. Discover how to refill your cup in just 3.5 hours through laughter, meditation, yoga poses, creativity, silence & much more.”
I can’t wait! I’ve been to one of Jenny’s Fill Your Cup retreats before and have come away refreshed and inspired. I know the positive energy Jenny exudes, (every season, for five seasons, she has led a goal setting evening with the basketball team that I coached) so know that one of her retreats, with the addition of yoga, will be just what I need to refill my cup.
To sign up to join me at the retreat, or for more information, FOLLOW THIS LINK.
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Change Is Hard
I made a tough decision this week to step down as the Head Girl’s Basketball Coach at West Seattle High School. I have been in tears off and on since that day.
When I took over the program five years ago I wanted to bring change. The program had struggled over the years and there was no support. In fact, I had 4 uniforms and $4 to start that first season. I spent pre-season hunting down uniforms from graduates and putting together fundraisers to get the team equipped. My assistant coach and I, ended that first season with six players who brought in 3 wins in one of the toughest leagues in the state of Washington. The last five years have been challenging, but the girls and the coaches, have worked hard to help build the program, so that this year we had Varsity, Junior Varsity and JVC squads and seven coaches. The West Seattle Girl’s Basketball program now has three Metro Sound Division Titles, a Metro League Championship and they placed 6th in State, but most of all the players are a group of focused and caring young women who play with a lot of heart. And that’s why it brings me to tears when I think about my decision to leave, because I care about each and every one of them.
Change is hard.
However, just because a decision is difficult, it doesn’t mean it’s not the right decision. I had to look at what my family needed and make my decision based on that. As other coaches know, being a head coach at the high school level is not an easy job, and to be competitive, it’s damn close to a full-time job, and unfortunately a majority of the time […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Let The Sunshine In
It’s not sunny today, but there is no rain and the birds are singing so it feels like spring and I love it. I have the urge to go for a walk, work in the yard, really enjoy the day. What I don’t have, is the urge to do my TAXES. But I’ve been putting it off long enough so it’s time to pull out the receipts and bills and start sorting.
Every year I go through this struggle and every year the process is not nearly as bad as I image. Still it always puts me in a state of ongoing procrastination, until that final day when I can’t stand it anymore. Which I have decided will be today.
And then after I’m done preparing my taxes, I can truly enjoy the music of the birds and if I’m lucky, maybe by then, a little sunshine.
WRITING PROMPT #1: Write about the times that you procrastinate in your life. What are some ways that would help you stop your procrastination?
WRITING PROMPT #2: Sierra dropped a shoebox filled with receipts on her accountants desk and walk out the door without a word…
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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Monday’s Pen to Paper: Try Something New
I had my first tennis lesson today. This is new for me, because although I volley with my husband for exercise on occasion during the summer, I’ve never officially played the game. And though I’ve managed to get by with athleticism and my junior high school PE class knowledge, I thought it would be nice to step up my game (and get a good workout in the process).
Originally I was thinking about signing up for road races, but I’ve been fighting false sciatica for almost a year and have a hard time running. So I landed on tennis as a good option. It would be competitive (which I like) and since I’ve got a lot to learn, I have room to grow, to get better. Do I remember how to score? Kind of. Love,15, 30, 40, Duce, add in/add out, game? Something […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Bring on The Luck!
The team that I took to the State Tournament last year got a terrible draw for their Regional game this year. After going undefeated in league and placing in Districts they are one of the top teams in the state, and for their Regional (looser out) game, they drew last years State Champion, which is still ranked number one. This means that after this regional matchup, one of the best teams in the state will not be at the State Tournament.
This sucks.
Going to the State Tournament is a big thing. It is an experience of a lifetime. An opportunity for teams who have worked hard all season, (and during the off-season) to play competitive high level games and spend a final weekend together as a team. (Not to mention have a few bragging rights.)
Last season we […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words
A picture is worth a thousand words, or at least one hundred. Take a look at the photo and let your imagination get to work. Write on!
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