Essential Parts of a Successful "Coach"

In college when I played ball, I swore that I would never coach. Well, maybe 1st graders, but I'd put a limit on that age. Because they don't know that I don't know (Friends, anyone?...One of my favorite episodes for sure) what the heck I'm doing. See, I played basketball. I did NOT coach basketball. Welp, I find myself coaching 6th-8th grade girl's basketball at school this year and you're as surprised as I am with my decision.

We had our first game today. Before I am blognerable, let me tell you that in defense of the Landmark Vikings and their coaches, we have only had 2.5 practices. I say .5 because that day they had to get their uniforms and also we didn't get to the high school gym on time. It's crazy I tell you, we spend 20 precious minutes in the mini-bus (don't worry about it I'm certified) traveling from the middle school to the high school. Maybe my co-coach (who graduated from Endicott last year; she was point guard...crazy huh) and I could do some sort of practice while we're traveling. Lane slides down the aisle? Agility work jumping over the seats? Work on game face? 

Blognerable definition: To share in blogging form that one's team lost 5-22.

So we lost. We also only shot about 10 times. We also spent WAAAYYYY too much time dribbling and looking down. And I know, it's all about the kids, they are our future, blah blah. 

But let me tell you about how awesome I was...

Again, I have no idea what I'm doing. Maybe it's one of those cases where I'm doing fine, I just don't have confidence. But then again, maybe it's not that type of case. But another case. Hm. I wonder what kind of case. 

I didn't wear my Landmark Athletics coaching shirt today, so I can wear it tomorrow for pictures. So I just wore my school clothes, you might call it my Wednesday best. Tomorrow my Thursday best will probably be the shirt and some khaki pants. See how that works?

So essential parts of a successful "coach".....

-Landmark Athletics coaching shirt. If unavailable, (insert day of week here) best.

-One of those bball court dry erase clipboard thingies. Preferably with writing on it (X's and the sign for setting a screen always a good idea), so it looks like coach knows what is going on.

-A firm handshake for the referees and other coaches. And a smile.

-Standing up every now and then during the game and yelling something (obviously related to basketball, not something like, "you kiss yo' mamma with that mouth", or "what are you having for dinner tonight?" ) to a girl so it looks like you're 100% into it. Even though you really want to be watching the 2nd grader cheering squad in the corner of the gym:)

- One should probably yell "time-out!" when a girl is on the ground trying not to get the ball stolen. Yep. DEFINITELY best coaching strategy I used this afternoon. What, it's just elementary age, you say? Shut-up, I don't mess around. 

-A whistle.

Tomorrow is another game. Do I think we'll win it? Welp, I will have my coaching shirt, a bball court dry erase board thingy, some pretend instructive comments, and a whistle. Well I'll tell you one thing, we're definitely scoring at LEAST 6 points.