Sorry for the lack of posts—the bettys were confined indoors for quite a while and had no early tourneys this year. Thanks for your patience! There were so many other awesome posts by authors in the blogroll to keep us occupied anyway.
I played with the bettys for 5 great years, but will be a KU student for a grand total of seven (currently in year 6). I love the sport and team, and I want to see them succeed. Their definition of success might be different than mine, but hopefully some of our wishes for the program can work together. Really, I just want to leave the team better than how I found it. Honestly, the team was great in fall 2005, but great in very different ways as I alluded to in a previous post. In retrospect, I know I have positively impacted the team.
That said, I didn’t feel done after my 5th year. I would still be around, and it feels almost wrong to be present but not participate. I offered to help coach. The drag is… I’m in a grad program. I don’t make my schedule—my department does. Last fall semester, I had a lab during every practice. I’m free this semester, BUT I’m traveling for a clinical rotation. While this is certainly a great personal experience, it stinks to miss a month of the action.
I got to finally act as the coach figure I had been preparing for during the past two weeks and loved it. Some of the players told me practices were much more efficient and productive with my help. I was thrilled. I focused a ton on fundamentals and tried to integrate techniques I picked up via USAU’s coaching clinic and stuff I’ve read in that baller captain college resource manual thing. We had some natural ups and down. Those are expected. I just love that I felt like most girls wanted to listen and learn. That’s super rewarding. I can’t wait to get back in April and continue, but I’m sad I’m missing March—definitely a crucial time in a team’s development. Lawrence is such a transitional town for many people, which is partly why I think it’s been hard for the Bettys to retain a coach. I fear this will happen with myself too, but am trying to what I can do now. If/when I move, maybe I’ll be able to coach again… guess we’ll just have to see.
I hope to be able to send advice and ideas to the captains and players via cell/email/etc, but nothing will replace a coach’s presence at a practice. I seriously doubt this, but if any of my past coaches are reading this, thank you. If you have a past coach out there, tell em thanks. Then go thank your current coach. Then maybe become a coach?… Being on this side of the sideline is really opening my eyes and has been satisfying in this brief run. We just found out the bettys get to work with Cara Crouch at Centex this year—I’m so happy for them. I’m grateful for the opportunities they are receiving through the work of other dedicated individuals. I just want to put my appreciation out there in the universe and I hope the correct parties receive it. Keep doing what you’re doing everyone. You do make a difference.
PS: I heard the bettys went 3-1 on both days of Free State Classic… I’ve been in the car en route to Montana all weekend, so I apologize for being out of the loop. We’ll visit this later…
