Day 12

Day 12 in the books and it was a busy day.

Started with an early breakfast and a practice this morning. The practice wasn't the most uptempo practice but again there is that question of how tired we want to make the athletes as we prepare for this trip. I will explain the trip later and you will see what I mean.

We are still awaiting one of our guards to come back but that won't happen until China. The doctor has her on a daily treatment schedule and says she'll be ready for China. That will be a good thing. Our starting PG will have to tough out the trip with her ankle issue as it can't get any better or any worse by playing. So we are a little shorthanded but everyone should be ready to go. The problem is that we aren't exceptionally deep and they are big and deep. They are expecting our best team but our people have told them that this is a development team and we have been hampered by injuries to our current roster as well as to the possible players who could be here. I think we will struggle in a big way to put points on the board. 

After practice I watched some of the junior team. Nice to see Justine Colley and Abby Duinker from Nova Scotia make the squad that will head to Argentina to try and qualify for the junior world championships. Once the practice was complete, the senior coaches took 30 minutes out of the day to get off campus and head to Starbucks. A good change of pace. 

This evening at 5:30 we played the juniors in a controlled scrimmage with no score being kept. We played somewhat sloppy in parts and didn't run our offense well. Our defense did improve but we must try and get better before we challenge the Chinese. 

This evening we were given our schedule and some directions for the trip. We can only take one bag and it must be less than 20 kg due to the restrictions on the flight within China. So we must spread out our gear and then Canada Basketball is going to weigh each bag before we go. Bizarre but they don't want to incur any extra costs on the trip. 

I know this will be a bit long but I am going to give a brief (as possible) run down on the schedule so people will know what we are going to experience. Our schedule is pretty much down to the minute although that may change drastically once we are in China. There is very little free time to experience the culture or sights but we'll survive. So here goes.

(by the way, the time change is 11 hours from N.S. time and I won't include everything on our itinerary here)

July 15 - Depart Toronto - 14 hour flight and arrive in Shanghai at 3:20 on July 16th. From the plane we go to the bus for our 3 hour drive to the hotel in Jiangyin. With the 3 hours in the airport prior to departure that is 20 hours of travel. We will be hosted to a dinner at 7pm on the 16th.

July 17

7:30 AM breakfast

practice scheduled at 10-12 and 4:30-6:30 - we will only use one time

12:30 hosted lunch

7:30pm  hosted dinner

July 18

Early breakfast followed by a technical meeting

10:30 -12:00 Game Day shootaround

1:45 team meeting

4pm light meal

7pm opening ceremony (doing this in every city)

7:30 Game

9:45 Press COnference

10 pm - Dinner

July 19

8 am breakfast

9:30 departure 1 hour bus ride to Zhangjiagang

2:30pm meal

4:00pm practice

6pm dinner

July 20

7Am breakfast

10:30-12noon practice

12:30 lunch

1:45pm team meeting

4:30 light meal

7:00pm opening ceremony

7:30 Game 

9:45 Press Conference

10:00 pm Dinner

July 21

6:30 AM Breakfast

7:45AM 1 hour drive from Zhanhjiagang to shanghai

11:30 1 hour and 45 minute flight from Shanghai to Zhengzhou

1:30 2.5 hours bus ride from Zhengzhou to Jiyuan

4pm Arrive in Jiyuan

5pm  Hosted Dinner

July 22 

7:30 Breakfast

11:00 Am Practice

12:15 hosted lunch

1:45 team meeting

4:45 pm light meal

7:00pm opening ceremonies

7:30 game

9:45pm press conference

10:00 pm hosted dinner

July 23

6AM Take out breakfast

3 hour bus ride to Zhengzhou

10:30 1.5 hour flight to shanghai 

5:10 pm 14 hour flight from Shanghai to Toronto

So as you can see, it will be hectic and it will probably be the most mentally demanding thing I have ever done. So I must go and get some rest. We have our final practice tomorrow at 10AM followed by some laundry and some last minute shopping. This journey is just getting revved up. Too bad my favorite part (the practices) are coming to an end. I can't wait to hit the 40 plus degree heat!!! 

The journey continues.

Coach