PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: So You Want A New Coach?
Sometime you can’t choose your coach, so what happens if you find yourself with a coach you don’t like?
What Do You Do If You Don’t Like Your Coach?
Dealing with a coach that you don’t see eye-to-eye with can be a real challenge. When I was a young player, I didn’t like all of my coaches, so I can understand. And I’m sure that not every one of my players liked me as thier coach.
But if you love to play your sport, as long as you are in a safe environment, there are ways to make it through your season, learn more about the game and have fun while doing it.
What To Do If You Don’t Feel Safe
There is a difference between a coach that isn’t great and a coach that puts you at risk, physically or emotionally. If a coach touches you inappropriately (hit, kick, sexual advance), degrades you, insults you, or pressures you to play on an injury, it’s imperative that you set your boundaries and then talk to a trusted adult.
If you’re safe but you just don’t like your coach. The question that comes next is, what is it that you don’t like about your coach?
Not Getting Enough Playing Time
Do you feel like you should be getting more playing time? You aren’t’ the only one. Most athletes believe they deserve more playing time but there are only so many minutes in a game. So think about how many minutes are truly available versus your expectations.
If you are at a higher level of play, high school varsity or college level, where the game is more competitive, it is usually the better athletes, and the ones who have good work ethic and good attitudes, that get more playing time. But, at the youth level, I believe playing time should […]
PEN TO PAPER: Little Frustrations
I’ve been locked out of my website for a few days. Talk about frustrating. Especially since I am not great with tech. I tried my password and clicked on a few buttons and that was it, after that I had no idea what else to do. This is when I would normally call or email someone for help, except there was no phone number or email to contact.
These days, as consumers we are expected to search the support page for answers. What the heck? I don’t even know what I’m looking for!
Fortunately, I’m back on, or back in, or whatever you say, and the whole frustrating experience gave me a good idea for a writing prompt.
WRITING PROMPT #1: Write about what frustrates you.
WRITING PROMPT #2: Write about a time you got locked out of your email, or your house, or something or someplace important.
WRITING PROMPT #3: Raven opened her laptop, turned it on and…
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Connect With Your Teammates
If you work to become closer with your teammates, your team will be stronger, and you might even make a new friend. But it’s not always easy. You can work to earn your teammates respect, find common ground with them and spend time outside of your sport to start. Read more on how to do this HERE.
PEN TO PAPER: Surprise
Since I fell off the wagon with my writing prompts, I figured that I better come back with some good ones. Give one of these a try and see what happens.
Write on!
WRITING PROMPT #1: You look in the mirror in the morning and you look like a different person. Now write.
WRITING PROMPT #2: You wake up and find that you have a super power. What is it and what do you do next.
WRITING PROMPT # 3: Caden’s eyes widened when he noticed…
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
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: From Facial Hair To Underwear: Routines, Rituals & Superstitions
I wore the same pair of underwear for all but one basketball game over my three years of middle school, and you guessed it, that one game when I didn’t wear them, we lost. And though this is way too much information already, I will clarify that yes, I did wash them between every game. This is only one indication of how crazy athletes can get when it comes to their superstitions.
If you asked me now if I really believed that it mattered what underwear I wore to the middle school games, I would say no, and even back then, if pushed, I would have said no. Yet, once it all started and the winning streak was happening I just figured it didn’t hurt. Fortunately, I didn’t continue that superstition into high school and college but I did have little rituals that guided me into game time as do most […]
VANAGON ADVENTURES: Road-Trip Travels, Trails & Tales (Seattle to Tijuana, Mexico)
I love roadtrips, especially when they’re in my 1989 VW Vanagon, the Blue Bomber. A vanagon roadtrip is always an adventure. Last month, on Instagram, I posted about my first road trip in the Blue Bomber twenty-three years ago. We had just bought the van and I drove it down the west coast and then back north. I was pregnant and traveling with my 2-½ year old daughter and our boxer dog. I had no cell phone and we broke down three times, but always found our way. My most recent journey was from Seattle to Tijuana, Mexico. I gathered my Instagram post into one giant blog so that you can read about my adventure if you missed it on Social Media.
The drive to Mexico was prompted by the need for bodywork and a new paint job on the Blue Bomber. It is old and rusting, so the metal is […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Should I Play AAU Basketball?
There is no perfect answer to this question. It really depends on the athlete and the AAU programs available. I played AAU, my kids played AAU and as a coach I have observed many athletes go through AAU programs, so if you, or someone you know, is interested in playing AAU basketball, here are some pros and cons to consider.
PROS
Time On The Court
When you play on an AAU team you might get more time on the court. There is no guarantee. It depends on the team and your ability, but if you are a player who starts, or gets into the games a lot, the extra time on the court can be worth it.
Better Competition
Often AAU teams play against better competition. Most AAU teams travel to tournaments and find high-level events to help improve their game and increase player exposure to college recruiters.
Visibility
Times have shifted over the years, college coaches […]
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