Coach Player Tournament

Saturday was a first for me and 4 of my 12U players.  We all played in a tournament together at the White Sands Beach facility in Hillsboro.  We were the youngest and (besides me) shortest team out there.  The girls thought it was really cool to play and dive (and dive and dive) in the sand.  I was a little concerned that some of them weren't going to last the day and get what to do but by the end of our 3rd game they were diving and moving toward the ball more than they ever have before!

We didn't win any games (we came REALLY close once...25-27) but they had a blast and we all came out virtually unscathed. 

Well, ALMOST unscathed.  I maaaaaay have broken my toe.  Yup, there's my toe.  All black and blue (and yellow and green and purple).  It's quite sore...and I can tell you this picture does not quite portray the array of colors that my toe has turned in the last 24 hours. 

But, we had a blast.  I had a lot of fun and thanks to my girls' wonderful parents I have pictures to prove it.  I will definitely do this again.

 

Ellen and I waiting for a ball to be served.  I knew I had a lot of fun yesterday; I guess the smile on my face proves it!

 

Katelin, the youngest player on my team, learning how to dive for a ball.  She was my NECTAR setter all day.  Did I mention she's only a 3rd grader?

Here's the whole crew between pool play games.  I'm not sure if Isabella could smile any bigger.  That girl has so much energy!  We all had so much fun, definitely going to plan for another one of these soon...minus the toe injury!

Whale Push Ups

Another day...another push up.

We have been doing A LOT of push ups in practice lately.  Whether it's not calling the ball, or walking when we need to hustle or whatever.  Lots of push ups.

Today, one of my players had had it...

Me: Ok, 5 push ups!

Player: I hate push ups

Me: Me too!

Player: Why can't we do WHALE push ups?  (Then she proceeds to lift her arms and legs above her head keeping her stomach on the floor).

Me: (laughing a lot) Ummm, if I did those I'd break myself.  Thanks.

Whale push ups?  Seriously?  Who is her PE teacher anyway?

The Latest Noodle

I can always say that "it's been a while" since I've posted since it's always a while between posts.  So, I'm going to skip that line this time.

Instead I am going to try to write more often, and be ok if there aren't pictures to go along with my posts.

My 12U team that I coach with my good friend Carly has kept me sane the last month or so when bargaining and state tests would drive anyone insane.  I have kids as young as 9 on my teams and they always make me giggle out loud every practice.  No matter how terrible my day is when I spend time with those guys it always make my day.

At our last practice we had a very special interaction occur that went a little something like this:

Me: We need a word to say anytime you guys mess up and have to run and touch the end line

A random player: Noodle
(others at this point shouting in agreement) "Yeah noodle!"
Me: Um ok, "noodle" it is (I looked at Carly and just shrugged...of course they would pick a word like that)
(A little while later)
The game carries on with either Carly or I shouting "NOODLE!" anytime the game required it.  Until one point I apparently took it too far...

Carly to me: I can't believe you just noodled them for that.
Yup, noodle is now a verb.