PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Dig Deep
Recently our point guard went down with an ACL injury. A complete tear. As her coach, it’s a bummer of course, but she will be dealing with it every day for the next six to nine months. That SUCKS…and that’s putting it mildly.
I think of our point guard every day, throughout the day, because I know what it’s like to deal with injuries. On the court I’ve dealt with sprained ankles, broken fingers and other sports injuries. And I’ve returned from a bad femur break and arm & shoulder injury after a car accident (more about my recovery in this Eastern Magazine article Peace, Love, Basketball by Kandi Carper), so I know that surgery and physical rehabilitation are difficult, but it’s the mental recovery that’s the toughest.
Athletes want to play. Our point guard wants to play. She wants to feel and be a part of her team. And though she is still very important, I know it doesn’t feel the same when you’re not on the court. And when the season is over, she will miss the team camaraderie when she will need it most.
Fortunately this year our team is very connected, and I know they will reach out to their downed teammate after our final game, but it will not be the same. So that is when that injured player; our point guard, your friend, your husband, maybe you, need to dig deep and do what must be done to get better. Because life must go on and it’s a hell of a lot more fun when you’re healthy. And when you’re healthy it’s a lot easier to be happy.
Be strong and always believe in you!
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Selfless
We had our first playoff game last night. Our starting point guard is out for the season with a torn ACL, our 6’6″ starting post player was home with the flu and we had six varsity players in total. Our team had to play together to have a chance.
Before the game I encouraged them to play selfless, like our point guard is known to do. (She is ranked 2nd in the state of Washington for assists per game, she plays tough defense and she puts down shots when we need them). She has never received much credit in ink, but she plays the game with “TEAM” in mind.
Without her, our girls would have to draw from that same mindset to win, and they did. They were SELFLESS. They didn’t try to do too much (which often happens when new players take the court and are worried about their game), they worked together and played tenacious defense, took the opportunities that were given to them on offense (and created a few) and took care of the basketball.
When you play for the team, not just for yourself, great things can happen on the court and in life.
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Together We Are Strong
When writing my blogs I normally keep other peoples names out of it. The kids I coach. My friends and family. I figure it’s not my place to put their names down in print. Well, today I have to mention them all (still without naming them) because it’s because of them all, that we have experienced such an amazing year, and we haven’t even started playoffs. (Okay, and I had to add photos by Paul Moseley-West Seattle Herald)
Our motto this season is “Together We Are Strong” and I have never seen a group of girls that are more connected. Yes, we have gone undefeated in league, but more importantly the girls have learned what “Team” really means. This last friday we had our senior night and we started 5 seniors. (3 Varsity players, 1 JV player and 1 JVC player.) The girls worked to together unselfishly to get every senior a chance to score. It was a beautiful thing. Far beyond the business of wins and losses.
As coaches, we focus on the importance of team in our program, but having the kids believe in the concept also comes from having a supportive parent group and community. So thank you coaches and parents for all your support, and players, thank your for all your hard work and being such a great example of what it truly means to be a team.
Read more about the amazing night (and see more great photos)…Wildcat girls seal undefeated record-Celebrate Seniors
Writing Prompt: Write about a time when you were part of a team.
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Leave It All On The Court
We had a tight game last night. We led by just two points when we went into the locker room at halftime. We made adjustments to our offense, changed our defense and reminded the girls to “leave it all on the court.” The girls came out of the locker room on fire.
We kept the momentum for quite some time and when that momentum began to shift, we called a timeout and made more adjustments. It didn’t work. Our opponents kept pushing, as I knew they would, and though our team struggled to find a rhythm in the fourth quarter, we never gave up. We battled to the end and came out on top.
I often remind the girls to leave it all on the court. No regrets. Meaning if they’ve given everything they have; played their hardest, supported their teammates, stayed positive and strong in whatever role they played in that game, then win or lose, they can hold their heads high.
When you’re playing ball, or living life, remember to leave it all on the court!
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: Sometimes What You Need Is “Write” Next Door
We have an old Carnegie Library in our neighborhood. It’s beautiful. When my kids were young, we visited it all the time. We spent hours there gathering books and listening to story time. I remember thinking what a perfect place to just come and read or write or relax. Surrounded by books and history and quiet.
My kids grew older and our visits to the library less. The kids started checking out books at school and I took a position as head coach at the local high school, so I didn’t have many spare moments to go to the library. When I stepped down as head coach this season I made a commitment to finish my book, but my free time began to get swallowed up, so I made a promise to myself that I’d go to the “Office” every […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Tired Team? Time For Some TLC
This part of the season can get long, for both players and coaches. I’m not coaching this year, but my daughter reminded me of the fact yesterday (I’m visiting her at college where she is playing basketball). She said that she and her teammates are all really tired right now and having a hard time getting motivated. Suddenly I was transported back my years as a coach, and I remembered the look on the players faces, uninspired, distracted, anxious (finals were usually taking place at this time) and bored. They were burnt out and tired. Tired, not because they were out of shape (like my husband insisted) but mentally fried. It happened every year.
This was always the moment that I felt the urge to run them until they wanted to cry. Go all “old school” on […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Opportunity
Recently, when I was frustrated with the way I was playing, I reminded myself of how lucky I am just to be on the basketball court, working out and hanging out with my teammates. So I dug a little deeper and kept at it and when the game was over (though we lost by two points) I was thankful that I had been there. Thankful that I can still play this game that I love.
When you’re frustrated with your game. Keep working and remind yourself of why you play.
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