Day 4 Practice

Back to the coaching thing...

I realized something today, not about the team but about me. With the type of coach that I am assisting I need to make sure that I am always on my toes. Today she split the guards and post players up. She basically said to me two seconds before she did it, so I had to think on my toes. I had to think about all the things that the guards needed to work on and then pick about two of those things. I knew we had limited time so I choose to have them practice posting up and making a move to the basket, getting over screens effectively, and making a move to the basket depending on how the defense plays them.

I noticed in the past few practices that when they (the team) is running plays they are never in triple threat they are just on the court doing exactly what the play calls for. That is all fine but what about being creative, looking to score, taking the person off the dribble, what about your options? Many of these players are not thinkers, they depend on the coach to tell them their every move. Then there is about three to four people who know how to create, they see an opening and their going, forget the play, they are going for the 2pts. These ladies are the exceptional players but it is for that reason that they are some of the best players in Section II. I tried to teach the guards today about respect, not being respected, and gaining respect. I do not think they understood that if someone is not playing up on them, that means they do not respect their jump shot. What does that mean? You hit a jumper right in their eye and next time they will play tighter D. Once they get to close, you make a quick move and blow by them. These are simple plays that these ladies need to start thinking about and doing themselves.

Another thing these guards are at a good height at least compared to me, so they can easily beast (attack) on these girls in section II. If they could just work on their drop step or even a quick post move, it will definitely help put some points on the scoreboard, easily.

We have a lot to work on but I am going to do my part and be prepared for anything. I need to be on my toes at all times so that I can help these ladies because they can easily win sectionals and go to states. I know it seems like they are scrubs but they are not, they are some really good players, they have a lot of talent, they just do not know how to put it altogether and dominate. Do not worry we will work out all the kinks very soon.

Stay tuned...game tomorrow (hopefully)!

Day 3 Practice

Honestly, I would love to type forever but I have to make this quick. I know your thinking that I missed Day 2 practice but I did not, practice was cancelled. Instead of giving the ladies an "academic" day, I asked them to meet me in the library at 3pm to do some homework, unless they had to work or babysit, then its understandable. So how about two ladies said that they cannot come because they are going shopping. I'm thinking to myself, you can't (trying to write properly but cannot does not sound correct there) go shopping at 4pm instead and get some of your homework done? Of course not, so only four ladies showed up. The ones who needed to be there of course did not come and what does that mean, the chances of them being ineligible again is a high percentage.

I am really stumbling with this...how is it that more than one female is academically ineligible on this one particular team? Being injured, okay, but not being able to practice or play because you are failing more than one class???? I just do not get it. Has things changed in about four years, are the classes harder? I do not think so because the hard classes are the AP and IBO classes but those people are doing their thing despite how challenging the classes are. Get it together ladies, your losing because you do not have a full squad/team.

T=Together
E=Everyone
A=Achieves
M=More

This is not a hard concept to grasp. On the real in high school all you have to do is do the work, participate and you will pass. If you put a little more effort into it you will earn a B, put your all into it and study you will definitely earn a A with no doubt.

On to practice:
No words for today, so many females on the team (all levels-JV & Varsity included) are in tutoring because they are on academic probation. It is so many that all squads at to practice today together for at least an hour. How about ladies were showing up an hour and fifteen minutes late when they only have two hour practices. How crazy is that? I wish I was coach, I would definitely make some drastic changes. Actually I wish I was the assistant coach, getting paid, and making a lot of academic changes.

Check in next time to see what my academic coaching plan would consist of.

Until next time....

Day 1 of Practice

Today was the first day of practice. I was a little apprehensive at first but I got in to it quickly. A friend of mine made a comment yesterday asking why I was coaching because I don't know any of the ladies on the team. I knew for sure that I knew at least two of them but in actuality I knew all of them except for one of them. Any who, just being on the sideline watching at first forced me to get excited and verbal. I have never been a quite bballer or coach so today definitely wouldn't be any different. I looked at all the girls on the team and I cannot figure out why they would lose any game, they have plenty of talent. They have three strong big girls, one is only in 7th grade so you know she has to be good if she on varsity or the team is desperate which isn't the case. Basically they have all the talent and they do not know what to do with it.
My plan for next practice and for the team is to get them academically and athletically prepared. These young ladies need to see their potential, recognize their talent, and recognize their teammates talent as well. Another challenge this team has that many others do is realizing that every player on the team has a role to play and they are on the team to fill that role. Someone has to be the PG...Teams also need verbal bench players, practice players to make other players better, and they also need defensive players as well. These are not the only roles that people need to fill they age just a select few. Some players also need to realize that their teammates need them to carry them to victory. Their teammates don't leave them room to have an off day they have to always be on top of their game even if they have not accepted that role.
As a future coach how will I deal with the ineligibility of my star athletes? Do I sit them down until to they are performing above passing and continue to not play the not so athletic but a smart palyerz? What would you do? Once players are eligible do they get to start and play the whole game or do they sit for a while until they earn their playing time back even though they May be the eat player? Is it fair to the all around good students but less talented players not get to play because they are not as good as the academically challeneged players? If the athletic players get to play as much as they did before they had to sit out, what message am I sending them?

What would you do as head coach?

That is all...

Last Day at Cortland

Welcome to my blog and I am anxious to get right to it. I will welcome everyone some other time.

So today was my last day at Cortland, no more classes, no more classmates, no more pubig, no more Cortland crap. With it being the last day I decided to do like any smart college student would do, spend all my meals and dragon dollars before I left. There was not much left with it being the second to last day so I brought chips. I purchased at least thirty or more bags of chips. Of course I am working with this one cashier's (my friends neubig BFF) and I told her what I was going to do because I had so many freaking chips and could not hold them all in my small arms. To get to my point which you all have a clue about...while getting some coca-cola for the road I notice another ASC worker talking to the cashier women looking and pointing with her chin at me and my chips in my hand. She did not try to hide it or at least I think she did a poor job at it. I wanted to walk over there and exchange some words but instead I rubbed it in her face. Made sure she knew to next time mind her business or at least wait for me to make the attempt to steal something.

Let's discuss this, who in college you know would waste their time getting caught stealing a bag of chips. I know Craig (from the movie Friday) got fired on his day off for stealing boxes but why would I steal chips? I have four meals, two guest meals and eleven dragon dollars left. Again, why would I steal chips? If I was to ever steal something it would be of great value. If I am going to go to jail for stealing then I am going to steal something good, I will not get kicked out of school or be in the media for stealing a hair pin or something.

Back to the story, I paid for my stuff and bounced, but of course I asked the manager to address her employee.

Basically I decided to take some action but bounce because today was my last day and I was not going to let this or anything else ruin my day. Monday was the greatest day in my life because I finished 90% of my undergrad, but today (Thursday) was wonderful because I kissed Cortland goodbye not with a tear but with excitement and joy.

Finally I am done with "my bid". I served a hard four year sentence, I am on probation right now for good behavior but don't you worry I will be on my best behavior. I will only return to Cortland to receive good behavior awards and to visit some friends (there aren't many so it will be a short visit)

I am not bitter, I am excited. Don't feel bad for me, be happy because my life is just beginning. I have no regrets just war battles on my sleeves.

I am victorious!