PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Surprise Yourself
Yesterday was my Thursday night women’s basketball league. Most of the players on our team played basketball at the college level, and though a lot of us are over 40-years-old, we are competitive with other teams. Last night we played a new team to the league. The women arrived in short shorts and running shoes. I was concerned.
The game ended 74-17 in our favor. Normally this type of game would have really frustrated me, and to be honest, scared me. (It’s when players are out of control that people get hurt.) But these women did not play crazy out of control, just extremely rusty and what was interesting and inspiring was that they had all played basketball together in high school and they had decided to put a team together and go for it. Who could knock that?
This morning those women are probably hobbling out of bed, a little sore from being away from the sport for so long, and thinking, “Wow, we did it!”
Is there something that you love, that you’ve given up? Why not surprise yourself, and try it again…
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Simply Write
WRITING PROMPT: Take a look at today’s photo and get to work…
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Open
We had our first summer practice for high school this week. (The kids are still in school, it’s just officially called “summer” practice.)
Last week I watched some coaching video’s. And like times in the past when I’ve read a book on coaching, or watched a coaching video, or attend a coaches clinic or simply have had a conversation with another coach, there is alway something new to learn or an idea to investigate.
This time I was reminded of some defensive concepts to emphasize, given new press breaker ideas to consider and I picked up a couple of new shooting drills by the University of Connecticut Huskies women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma. (Thanks Coach) 😉
In coaching and in life, remain open to new ideas…
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Go With Your Gut
I like the expression Go With Your Gut. It’s a way of saying, “believe in yourself.” And it rings true in many areas of life.
I used the expression recently with my daughter. We are taking a writing class together where we receive a lot of critiquing. Critique groups are great and can help expand and strengthen writing, but I warned my daughter (and reminded myself), that when she was receiving input on her writing, to be open for suggestions, take in all the ideas and opinions, but in the end remember you’ve got to go with your gut, it’s your writing.
Let your writing be in enhanced by the critiques, but don’t allow the input to drag you down. Because it can. I’ve been in a group session that left me frustrated and upset and wondering why I bothered to write at all. This is not what classes and writing groups are about. A good group, like the one I am in now, influences choices and inspires, but in the end you are the one doing the writing and you must believe in yourself and the message of your story.
Go with your gut.
WRITING PROMPT: Write about a time that you went with your gut. What happened?How did it feel?
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 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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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