This past summer I took a coaching authorization class in Ames, so now I can officially coach in Iowa. I learned about a variety of subjects that I never really thought about as a student athlete myself, and it made me appreciate what my coaches did on a daily basis.
This year at AAG I am coaching JV basketball and U14 (7/8th grade) volleyball. Basketball season has for the most part come to a close right as U14 volleyball season is starting. It is making for a crazy second semester, but I am loving it so far.
I have worked with some of the high school students through JV and V volleyball when I would help Laura out and through teacher vs. student volleyball, but I had not made and real connections with the girls. That all changed with my JV basketball team. We held tryouts just before winter break. I knew three of the girls who had come to try out and everyone else was new to me. After winter break we started practices.
I have never been good with names, and it has taken me quite a while to finally get them down. The girls and I have gotten to know each other more. We started the season unfamiliar with each other, but now at the end these girls feel like family to me. We have had a really good season. We had our fair share of wins and losses, but the girls always held their heads up high.
Last week we had the JV tournament. The girls made it to the finals and were extremely excited about it. Our last opponent was AUS, a school we had not played yet this season. It was a tough game. The girls were exhausted, but they played hard. The game did not turn out in our favor though, so the Warriors took second in the tournament.
Fast forward to yesterday. We met AUS again on their home court. The girls went into the game looking to redeem themselves and let it be known that AAG is a force to be reckoned with. The game started out strong and towards the end of the first quarter we were up 5-0. Both teams were very different teams then who had met each other just a week and a half prior.
The game was a really good one and the girls stayed in the game until the final buzzer. The final score was 17-15 in favor of AUS. The girls were a little bummed that they had lost, but I could not have been more proud of them. We shook hands with the other team and then came in for our team huddle. I told the girls how proud of them I was and that this game had been the best I have seen them play all season. This game is currently set to be our last game for the season (we are still trying to set up some more games but we will see) and I started to tear up. The girls decided we need a group hug, which was wonderful.
These girls have made my year, and I really needed them. I love their random visits to my classroom, our heart to heart conversations, competitiveness they feel towards me (I am much taller than they are and they see it as a challenge, it’s fun), and this team. I couldn’t be happier that I was able to be their coach this season. I wish I could bring them all to my next school and continue to be their coach next year.
I am so glad that I decided to take that coaching class last summer and that I decided to give coaching a try. This group of girls will always have a special spot in my heart as my first team. It’s hard to think that the season is over, but U14 is in full swing now, and I get to continue working with girls in a different capacity outside of teaching!
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| The team after our first game of the season |
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| The team after our last game of the season |
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| The team after our JV tournament |
