PeaceLoveBasketball Friday (on Monday): Team Takes Time
I had to hold back tears at our first practice last Monday. Our team was warmed up and ready to begin at 3:00pm sharp, and then during our first water break players got a quick drink and then grabbed a ball (some even partnered up) and spread around the gym to work on shooting. It was a beautiful sight.
After 3 years, we now have a core group of girls that understand what we expect from athletes in our program. The first two years, players fought against hard work and structure. Saturday practices? Were we crazy? Boring fundamentals? That’s no fun. Defensive slides until your quads burn? Never.
We had players pouting. Players quitting. Parents complaining.
Those first years were tough. But some players soaked it in. They learned over the seasons. Grew as players and human beings. So that by last season, my third year, we were a stronger team. Our two seniors, who were not our starters, were a huge part of our success. They worked hard and believed in the concept of team.
I know this season will be great, no matter our record, due to the powerful and positive vibe I see on the on the court and team pride I see in their eyes.
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Just Write
Take a moment to look at the photo and then let your pen fly…
WRITING PROMPT:
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Peace in Friendships
Tuesday I had a modeling job for Ex Officio with a woman who I had coached when I was an assistant high school basketball coach just out of college. Now we both have laugh lines and covered greys. She is 40 with 4 kids. I am 47 with 2 kids. It seems crazy that we should work together all these years later as models, not to mention, she is also a basketball coach.
Four hours on the job seemed like nothing. We chatted about the upcoming season (our teams are even in the same league and will be playing one another). As a head coach I stress about the upcoming season, so it was nice to talk to another coach.
Wednesday I met my best friend from high school. She is not an athlete, but we are on the same page with most things. She gets me. Basketball filtered in and out of our conversation. No advice, no basketball insight, yet I left her house feeling more peaceful, ready to attack the last-minute details and prep work I need to take care of before Monday’s start date.
Thursday, I met with my writing buddy. I wrote about my week, my to do’s, basketball, my dreams, I wrote about how thankful I am for my friends who help me find peace and joy in life, especially through basketball season.
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: The Court of Life
I’ve been going through my basketball newsletters, and searching through websites, printing out basketball drills and plays to add to my collection. It’s always fun to have a few new tidbits for the upcoming season.
Last year I found some great new drills while attending coaches clinics. I also found a couple of new things that once I tried to implement them didn’t really work well with our team. Sometimes that’s the way things work on the court, you have to give it a try, adjust, try again, and if it’s not working, move on.
At one of the clinics before our season last year I took notes on an intense half-court trapping defense that I knew would be perfect for our team. I could envision us surprising everyone in our league, wildly trapping opponents and then stealing passes for easy buckets. I was wrong. Our team didn’t quite buy into the aggressive rotation that had to happen on the court not to mention that as the season progressed and our legs started to tire and our numbers dwindled , the half court scramble left us drained.
We shifted our defensive strategy. Our team thrived.
Playing basketball, coaching basketball, and life itself is about learning and growing and adjusting. Finding what works best. There are times in my life that I know I have it all figured out. Then I have to open my eyes, look around and make a change.
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.
Blog
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Blog or No Blog?
Recently I had a fellow writer ask about blogging. They were trying to decide if they should blog. I wrangled with this idea myself when I first set up a website. I started out blogging on occasion and, as with many writers, I kept thinking, “Why am I doing this? Who really cares to read my blog?” And then I would fizzle out and my writing would stop. Finally, I had a little sit down with myself, and knowing that it would help my writing, I made a commitment to two blogs a week. And then I reminded myself that if just one person finds it helpful or enjoyable, it is worth it, and that keeps me on task.
So if writing a blog keeps you writing, follow your heart and blog!
WRITING PROMPT #1: Write your first blog now.
WRITING PROMPT #2: Write about your […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Prep Work
Our first practice for the 2014-15 basketball season is one month from today! I’m so excited to get to the fun stuff…the coaching. I even like practices more than games…well now that I’m a coach, not when I was a player. But most of all, I just like to be on the court.
However, the prep work is just as important if you are a coach, or an athlete (or in life). As a coach, if I don’t have everything ready to roll for the season; schedules, school district paperwork, parent meeting packets, fundraising information, updated first-aid card, etc, it can make for a hectic year. As an athlete, if you don’t prep by getting in shape, it can make for a more difficult start to your season and can even contribute to injuries. Take care of your prep work. It isn’t alway […]
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