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 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 […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Old School
I love the feel of a pen in my hand and the roll of ink across paper. Of course I usually write on my computer, but there’s just something about going “old school” and using a system that has served us since its invention during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) in China, oh so many years ago.
Grab a journal or some paper, find a cozy spot, and get to work.
WRITING PROMPT #1: Where is your favorite place to write. Do you have a favorite journal?
WRITING PROMPT #2: Ingrid couldn’t believe she was really in China, she had dreamed of this moment since…
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 […]
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