Sonya Elliott – Page 39 – Back on the Court

PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Let’s Just Play Ball and Leave Acting for the Stage

I love basketball, but sometimes these days I wonder what is happening to the integrity of the game. What’s up with all the cheap play and dramatic antics? I watch it happen in games at every level, professional, college, and high school, as well as in my women’s rec-league.

Are you wondering what I’m talking about?

Let me explain by giving you a few examples. Recently before one of my daughter’s college games, she rolled her eyes and said, “Wait until you see #44 from the other team. She flops during every play, trying to draw a foul.” And sure enough during the game, play after play; this young woman (and a couple of other women from the team) threw themselves to the floor, arms flailing. I found myself hollering at the refs, “She’s flopping! That’s not a foul! Are you kidding me?” I was annoyed and I wasn’t even the coach. It reminded me of when I was coaching at the State Tournament last year and my daughter was guarding one of the best players in the state. While coaching I had a front row seat, and I watched as the girl literally grabbed my daughter’s wrist, pulled it into her jersey and then threw my daughter’s arm to the sky, as she heaved her own body to the floor. My daughter got the foul. I consider this cheap, and awfully close to dirty. I was appalled.

Tuesday, at a boys high school game, I watched, as over and over, a point guard dribbled to the side of his defender, and while bobbing his head up and down he’d slow a bit and flail his body around in a way that I suppose was suggesting to the referee […]

Monday’s Pen to Paper: Sometimes What You Need Is “Write” Next Door

We have an old Carnegie Library in our neighborhood. It’s beautiful. When my kids were young, we visited it all the time. We spent hours there gathering books and listening to story time. I remember thinking what a perfect place to just come and read or write or relax. Surrounded by books and history and quiet.

My kids grew older and our visits to the library less. The kids started checking out books at school and I took a position as head coach at the local high school, so I didn’t have many spare moments to go to the library. When I stepped down as head coach this season I made a commitment to finish my book, but my free time began to get swallowed up, so I made a promise to myself that I’d go to the “Office” every weekday. (The “office” being a coffee shop of my choosing where I wouldn’t be distracted by chores at my house). It’s been great, each location has done its job and allowed me to get my pen moving or my fingers tapping. But, I hadn’t found the perfect spot.

And then last week, when I was talking to a friend about looking for another “office” spot, she asked, “Have you tried the library?” The place I longed for, one that was quiet and where I’d be surrounded by books, was just minutes from my front door. Our local library.

WRITING PROMPT: Write about your favorite library.

PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Tired Team? Time For Some TLC

This part of the season can get long, for both players and coaches. I’m not coaching this year, but my daughter reminded me of the fact yesterday (I’m visiting her at college where she is playing basketball). She said that she and her teammates are all really tired right now and having a hard time getting motivated. Suddenly I was transported back my years as a coach, and I remembered the look on the players faces, uninspired, distracted, anxious (finals were usually taking place at this time) and bored. They were burnt out and tired. Tired, not because they were out of shape (like my husband insisted) but mentally fried. It happened every year.

This was always the moment that I felt the urge to run them until they wanted to cry. Go all “old school” on them. (Which I did from time to time, a few extra sets of lines never hurt), but at this time of the year, when we were a week or two away from playoffs, I knew what the team really needed was some TLC.

Tender loving care is like a reboot when players are mentally tired of the game. The burn out tends to be worse with a team that’s been loosing a lot, but it happened to my high school team that went undefeated in league. Plain and simple, basketball season is long. A good hard practice is important, of course, but by this point in the year, I kept practices focused, quick paced and short. With one key addition…more fun. From team building activities, to team dinners, to half court shooting competitions (which goes against my grain a little but the kids always love it), I looked for ways to […]

PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Opportunity

Recently, when I was frustrated with the way I was playing, I reminded myself of how lucky I am just to be on the basketball court, working out and hanging out with my teammates. So I dug a little deeper and kept at it and when the game was over (though we lost by two points) I was thankful that I had been there. Thankful that I can still play this game that I love.

When you’re frustrated with your game. Keep working and remind yourself of why you play.