As a coach you often ponder "what else can I do" when you hit past the mid-mark of the season... and it doesn't really matter if they're number one or bottom of the list... freshmen or varsity. Yes, you keep pounding the same fundamentals and adding a new play or defense here and there, but it's more than that. It's the mind game. Neglect development of the mind game along with the physical game and a team won't reach its full potential. So... I got out the red marker and we had the "play with heart" and "leave your guts on the floor talk" before the game last night and drew red hearts on our hands as a visual reminder of both unity and intent to do it. (some of you former players will remember this talk) :D I also talked about loving the game and the opportunity to play for the crowd, their parents, and their team. Why be nervous or stressed so much you can't even enjoy the moment of being on the hardwood. In the end... it really is just a game. A game I love, but not if you don't soak in the moments.
I made them a music CD and made them circle the whole floor (like the "big girls") when they went out there and to focus on loving the game and the moment. I also talked to them about game face. Look the other girl in the eye. Let your face say "bring it" without saying a word. Let your defense say "bring it". Well.... they did it! They brought their A-game. We won AND you could tell they "loved" the game by the way they were playing and talking both on the floor and on the bench. It was so exciting. I can't even explain it. Some girls that barely see the floor, played out of their head (and saw more playing time for it) and my guards were making passes that I didn't even know where they came from. They still had a few freshmen moments, but they ended the game with a stall that finally looked like it's supposed to and it was a thing of beauty. Now, if you're not into basketball, you're probably thinking.... it's just a game. True. But when they play like that and have fun like that... it becomes more... it becomes a high school memory that they keep and it becomes a bright spot in their life for this week and it becomes a life lesson. I also took my own advice and remembered to love the game and the players. Now if we can just knock off that number one team and take their spot.... Of course, there are a lot of other teams we have to play again so we can't get stuck on the fact that there's only one team we haven't beat. If we do that, we could get beat by a lesser team. The mind thing again. I call it "big head syndrome" a.k.a. "a little too proud". So yeah.... it was a good game/time last night and I'm proud of the girls.
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