Tip #1: Routine Routine Routine - apart from being superstitious before big games, it helps bring normality to the day, and helps the players relax.
A bit of a sleep in this morning and big breakfast. Lots of options for the girls this morning. Cereal, eggs, bacon, toast, crumpets, yogurt. The girls always eat well. They will need their fuel for the upcoming match up today.
After breakfast the daily walk is in order. They arrive home all giggles and laughter with stories to tell from new information shared on the walk. Though its always cold, I think the girls enjoy the walk together.
While the girls chill in front of the TV I get to work on preparing a 'light snack' so the girls have enough energy in the tank for the game ahead. Our game time is at 1pm making it a difficult one for meals. So the snack I prepare is a combination of fruit and low GI bite size snacks.
Just before we go the coaching staff get the girls together to run through some tape and match ups. And off we go!!
Everyone is relaxed and happy on the trip in. We arrive in plenty of time and a big smile and welcome from Frank the court manager. A true legend.
I take my player to be taped and then off to the change rooms. It's quiet but the girls look ready (and focused). Whilst I would love to stay and listen in, I had thoughts of sneaking in a coffee before the game, but then realise that I need to check which side of the bench we are on. I go to the board to find out, by the time I do that, the window of opportunity has passed and duty calls. I arrive at the bench to find the other team starting to unpack their stuff on our bench. The conversation was sort of weird, like they thought there was a choice of which end we would be at. I politely explained we were Team A (meaning this was our bench) and they got the message.
The girls start to file out of the change room and start to warm up. While I was setting up I met Daniel Martinez (the CEO of Basketball NSW) who popped over to say hi and to ask if we had any behind the scenes photos as that is what people really want to see in the newsletters they produce. Hello? Do I have any photos?
Tip #2: Set up a private Facebook group where all your parents and players can have a private space to interact. As the manager I have full access over who can join the group etc. It has been a great way to give parents some insight into the behind the scenes happenings and allows them some peace of mind about how their kids are doing and what they are up to. Let's be honest, teenagers rarely provide detail when they get home from anywhere. I have used it to poll the parents and the kids about food, clothing needs etc in the lead up to the trip.
So I explained to Daniel that I have plenty and had already sent a couple off to the BNSW marketing guy as well as writing this blog. He was very impressed, but ultimately just wanted to make information accessible making it an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
The game was so impressive to watch.as our girls got more and more of a lead. It never looked like we were going to lose. Our composure and athleticism was no match for our opposition. But we were gracious in victory as our opposition were the other NSW team and I went over and hugged and kissed all the coaches. They are a great bunch of people, and we are sad that only one of us can progress to the semi finals.
Holy crap........that means we are in the top 4 in the country!!! The girls squealing with excitement as they come off the court was enough to bring a tear to my eye.
Lots of hugs from parents and big smiles. A very positive time. 1 injury throughout the game ( a twisted ankle - only jarred I think) so a big success.
A treat for the girls will be Subway again. They cheered like nothing else. On the way home the coaches realised they should have been back at the stadium scouting again, so we make contact with the bus and pull over to switch drivers so I can take the girls on the bus home, and the coaches can turn around and head back. I take the drivers seat and crank up the music. We are all high on adrenaline.
Subway are happy to see us and we spend the rest of the afternoon in recovery sessions, having showers and getting ready for dinner.
The coaches mum is having the girls over for dinner to give me a night off. Which is very thoughtful. So we head out to their place and enjoy some homemade burgers. Yummo!
The girls are able to have plenty of time to chill back at home after dinner, and then an 'earlyish' night. Well for the girls anyway. I always blog whilst a number of washing loads are done and thrown into the dryer in preparation for the next day. Whilst there is some time in the morning to do things like that I like to have it all done so in the morning I have nothing more to think about other than getting the girls breakfast and a snack and that's it.
Reflecting on the day it was truly awesome and we have so many supporters, who I can't name as many of them are not from NSW. Perhaps I will tell you after the tournament, but its obvious that we have a lot of people backing us as they pass by our bench as I have been setting up each day, giving me a thumbs up or a wishing us an authentic 'good luck'.
Bring on tomorrow. This is so exciting, I really can't believe its happening.
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