On The Sideline: Prepping For The First Game
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008
A blog for between the lines. Those lines that define the 94’ by 25’ that we work in and out of during our basketball season. I don’t personally read many blogs, however, the ones that I do read, I read religiously as they are very good and I always learn something from them! That is my definition of a good and productive blog!
And that is the hope I have for this blog; that it will be something that allows you a window into the day in the life of a women’s college basketball team, and thus, learn about what gets done behind the scenes.
Our coaches, staff, and student-athletes do a lot of things “outside the lines,” and while I also will talk about situations that happen “inside the lines,” I thought everyone might appreciate hearing about what goes on behind the scenes. So let’s get started with a couple of updates from last week that were part of the preparation for our first exhibition game against Northwest Christian University on Sunday.
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
It is the eve of the hallowed! This year we practice daily in the 4-7 p.m. time slot, right after the men’s practice.
Today marks week #2 of practice and practice #13!! So appropriate for Halloween!
Our practices begin with a 10–15 minute positional shooting warm-up, and then we work our way through our defensive, offensive, and of course, communication systems!
The noise you love to hear from a good basketball practice is that from sneakers squeaking up a storm through the stops and starts and all the travel up and down the hallowed hall of Mac Court. It was even more hallowed today because of the ooh’s and aah’s from our players in response to the coaches festive Halloween costumes! Just some fun to get into the spirit and get our players spirited for practice!
Adding to the noise of the sneakers are the voices of our team: talking, directing, re-assuring, confirming, urging, and cheering! Individual voices harmonizing into one collective din which represents the voice of our desire to get it right, and get it right together!! While we work hard to develop the offense and the defense, it is communication that is the glue between the two!
There is nothing better to a coach’s ear than Mac bubbling with team chatter and banter!
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008
A first group of Ducks was in at 7:30 a.m. to a weight workout, followed by the second group at 8:15 a.m. Between the weights, our student- athletes got therapy, taped, and ready for practice. We met in the team room downstairs to go over the scouting report on our opponent NCU. We spent 10 minutes on personnel, 10 minutes on film, and then it was up to the floor to put theory to practice!
Our practice was intense and our team was focused. They were very excited about the opportunity to play together and against another team. And what is even more exciting for them, was the fact that they were about to play in front of their favorite fans and people in Mac Court for the first time this year!
We finished at 11 a.m. with our circle closure, and at that same moment, 70 middle school girls poured on to the floor from outside of Mac Court. Our student-athletes transformed themselves from players to mentors, and they welcomed the young aspiring Ducks onto the floor and into the inner circle of Duck basketball.
Our players worked for one hour with these young girls, teaching and testing skills of dribbling, passing, shooting, lay-ups, foot work, and defensive stances. WHEW! It was fast and furious and fun! We got a lot done and all of us were tired, sweaty, and happy as we finished up. Then we went outside to sign T-shirts, balls, pictures, and to hang out together!
Such is the life of the Oregon women’s basketball team! We said goodbye to our young Ducks and our players headed off to get a shower, get some food, and have an afternoon on their own. We announced the 8 a.m. shootaround on Sunday morning and there were nothing but smiles! Nothing could be finer than getting ready to play in Mac. The smiles said it all!
