Sonya Elliott – Page 48 – Back on the Court

PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Stop the Madness, It’s Just a Game

I was at my son’s Junior Varsity High School summer recreation game last night when some parent madness was unleashed. Now understand, I am aware of the crazy antics of some high school parents, I spent three of my five years as a varsity head coach with a few of the parent telling lies about me and trying to get me fired, these parents are out there, but this, let me remind you, was a JUNIOR VARSITY Summer Rec-Tournament game.

It had been a great game. A tough fought battle. Both teams had played aggressive, intense basketball. Both teams fired up 3-balls from way beyond the arc and the lead switched back and forth throughout the game. It was the type of game players, coaches and fans live for, and the type of game that make players and teams better, win or lose. Yes, you want to win, you want your kid’s team to win, but it is also a game. And losing with honor and grace is important, not only for the players, but for the parents as well.

I’m not sure why I even allowed myself to get involved, except for that fact that one mother held a young child in her arms as two crazed moms got in her face. About what exactly I did not know, but this was not right. Myself and several others stepped between the madness until a man three-times our size made his own wall. Still the mom’s bickered, throwing F-bombs in front of the crowd and young boys and continued as they exited the gym. One parent asked me what I was thinking stepping into the mix as I was half the size of the women. I explained I felt like I had to […]

Monday’s Pen to Paper: Take Heart

“Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.” – William James

WRITING PROMPT: Take time to write about what is important to you and what makes your life worth living? Now take this information to heart as you live each day.

PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: New Beginnings

A new coach was named at the high school where I was head coach for five years. It’s a weird feeling to know that the girls who I have grown to care about and love, will be led by someone new. Yet, I also know that they will be fine, that learning to work with a new leader on the court will be good for them. It is a great lesson for life, because throughout their lifetime they will experience a lot of change, they will have to work with new bosses and a variety of co-workers, and figure out who they are, and how they fit in, along the way.

I have heard that the new coach is quite the opposite of me, and there is nothing wrong with that. All coaches have different styles. Pat Summit, C. Vivian Stringer, Mike Krzyzewski, John Wooden, all have had excellent results through different teaching methods. But what is important is that a coach has the best interest of the team in mind, because not only is a coach helping to develop young men and women, but in the case of high school basketball where there is no recruiting, a coach is working with the team they are given, so they are helping them to become better, stronger athletes, teaching them to work together on the court and creating a season that, win or lose, the players can be proud of.

I wish all the best to my girls and their new coach and I can’t wait to cheer them on to another successful season. Go Wildcats!

Monday’s Pen to Paper: Change

This is an exciting time. My daughter is about to graduate from high school, but you know what, as excited as I am for her to go off on her own and start living her own life, it’s really hitting me this week on how much I’m gonna miss her. In fact just writing about it gets me a little teary eyed.

Oh, I know she’ll be fine, I know that she will experience amazing things, and meet new friends, and grow as a person, but damn it, I like having her around.

Change is hard, I get it and know how to deal with it, but it doesn’t mean I always have to like it.

WRITING PROMPT: Write about changes that are happening in your life. How do they make you feel? How do they affect your life?