PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Choose work
I’ve gotten a little lazy in the past few months. I play basketball twice a week but that’s it. I know it could be worse, but I should do more–I feel better if I do more. Especially if I add a little strength work…maybe yoga…stretching.
“Sonya, it’s time to get going.”
This is not the first time that I’ve had to have a little talk with myself, and after this most recent conversation I decided to do something everyday. It can be a long walk with the dogs, shooting baskets with my kids, or a few sit ups and push ups.” Just something. So that’s my plan to get back on course. Nothing fancy, just good old-fashioned work.
The dogs are getting more exercise and so am I. And though I can barely move my arms from a Crossfit type workout I did with my husband this morning, this first week has been good.
Challenge yourself to get stronger in some way.
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Friend Inspiration
To be a writer, you have to do the work, simply sit your butt down and write. Sometimes it’s good to have a friend to help you do that.
My friend Jenny (www.mamameedsarefill.com) and I went to Portland to put pen to paper. We took the train, (very relaxing and 4 hours of writing time each way), slept in late (both busy moms needing to catch up on sleep), disappeared into 3 books stores for undisclosed amounts of time (you need to read to be a good writer) and pulled out our journals to write at every food and coffee stop along the way (a must).
Share time with a friend and find inspiration.
WRITING PROMPT: Write about your best friend…
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Are you wearing green?
I looked up St. Patrick’s Day, and Luck of the Irish, and leprechauns and Pots of Gold and Green clothes and Green beer and other traditions for this Irish Day. And I wasn’t surprised to find that the day has been totally Americanized. What would make St. Patrick’s Day any different from all the other holidays we celebrate in our country?
Though I’m not one to jump on the commercial bandwagon, I also won’t turn down a green beer, and on March 17th I always search my closet for green.
Go green and enjoy the day.
WRITING PROMPT: What would you do if you found a pot of gold?
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: AAU:The Promised Land?
Sonya Elliott AAU 1984
My kids are playing AAU basketball this spring (and so are some of the players I coach.) When I was young I played on several teams that gave me the opportunity to travel and compete. Back in the 80’s we didn’t pay-to-play but we had to raise our own money to travel. All the bake sales and car washes were worth every minute for the chance to go to Nationals. And playing in those tournaments gave me the opportunity to compete with the best.
Over the years as a coach I have witnessed both good and bad when it comes to AAU programs. Players can learn bad habits or come back to their high school teams at a higher level. It is what they make of it. Unfortunately, some parents, and players, believe that playing AAU will be their road to the promised land. A Full-Ride Division 1 scholarship. They spend money on AAU so their child can be seen by college coaches (money that could be used to pay for college itself) thinking the experience is a guarantee to play at the next level. There are no guarantees. There is only hard work, determination, and a little luck. (And don’t forget good grades)
Play AAU because you love to play, work to better your game, have fun and if you are lucky you will find the promised land.
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: Turn Up The Intensity With Fun
Often half way through the season it’s normal to see players that look a little down, maybe bored, and less intense. This drives me crazy, so each year I have to remind myself, and the players, that basketball is fun.
We are nearing the end of our regular season play and the girls have finals next week, so it’s been difficult to keep the intensity up in practice. At Tuesday’s practice, I wanted to put them on the line and run them for two hours, but I restrained, and then yesterday instead of running lines, I got music going in the gym and split the girls into two teams for basketball/conditioning relays, and then we finished with a short scrimmage and shooting. The girls got a nice workout, I felt satisfied that they got some good work in, and I saw lots of […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Life
Do you ever look in the mirror, or see a picture of yourself, and wonder what the hell happened? I’ve done this a lot lately. I mean, I look fine, I just look…old. Older than I used to look. And that’s okay, kind of, it’s just hard to wrap my mind around sometimes. The wrinkles, the thin skin, the grey, the aches and pains (well these I don’t see in the mirror, I just feel them). But what’s funny, is that in so many ways, I still feel like I’m in my 30’s, yet I’m closing in on 50.
50 years old!
My age has never really bothered me. In fact when I tell some one my age I alway say I’m almost 49. I have always gone to the next highest number and then said “almost.” Now I’m thinking I should change that habit.
As I have gotten older, life has become a […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Support at the High School level is a game changer
“We just beat last year’s State Champions!” echoed from the locker room as my assistant coaches and I gathered to enter for our post-game talk. The girls continued, “And did you see the crowd? Our entire student section was standing and cheering…for a GIRL’S BASKETBALL GAME!”
We walked in. Need I say more.
Seated on the bench in front of me there are eight girls who are totally invested in our program and more importantly in one another. This is a special team.
And this team has support that is unprecedented. It hasn’t always been this way, high school athletics are under a lot of scrutiny these days, but this year we have complete support and I know the players feel it. We have an administration that cares, an athletic director that has our backs, a phenomenal coaching […]
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