Practice started today at 4:30 but we were down a body. One of the players chose to leave for personal reasons so we are down to 23 in camp. I won't comment on the reasons for her decision but I know if it was me, I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to represent Canada on the court. Some athletes have said they have other things more important than that and that irks me. Today I read an article by men's national team head coach where he stated after a loss to New Zealand that "it's not about your country". I know he meant that you have to have personal pride and not get embarrassed on the court. However I think it IS about our country. When you represent the country you play with pride and passion and feel privileged that you get to do it. Too many people take things for granted. The coaches here have been around the world and told a story today about visiting the country of Niger. Three local teams practiced in the gym and after each practice they took off their sneakers and left them on the court for the next team. Can you imagine asking a North American player to think about that? It would be an international crisis.
Having said that, I think the group we have remaining here truly GET IT and are committed to giving everything they have to help develop a national identity for Canada Basketball. Hopefully they prove me right.
The practice today also showed me the mental capacity that some of these experienced, professional athletes. The veterans pick up things so quickly and are able to be advanced through skills at a MUCH quicker level than I am used to at our level. Interesting to see how things are planned and what actually can be planned when you have a team full of experienced, elite athletes.
After practice today Coach MacNeil asked me how I was enjoying it so far. Of Course I told her it was an incredible experience and it has been thus far. As many of you can imagine, I am asking questions and throwing around ideas like crazy. This is like heaven. Most people like the beach, I like the gym with good coaches to talk to. I also told her that the openness the staff has shown to a "rookie" like me has been impressive. They ask questions, seek ideas and opinions and have let me lead pieces of practice. It has been challenging and very rewarding. Perhaps the most challenging part of the practices has been the details. Allison and Mike are incredibly detailed. I don't have the picture of the program in my head that they do nor am I overly familiar with the offensive system they have so that leads to a few gaps with my attention to detail. They do look at the game at a much higher level though so it is a great opportunity for me to grow in that regard and see how things are done at the highest level of basketball in the female basketball world.
So now we forge ahead towards China. My task now is to put together a scouting report for our games as we play a team that in the past 5 months has knocked off perennial international contenders Spain and Australia and also defeated the U.S.
They are feeling that they can get a medal at the Beijing Olympics and we are taking our development team. I am trying to think back to what it was like coaching in my first year. It could resemble that!!!
Time to watch some video of our opponents and get ready for another day of practices.
The journey continues
Coach
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