Pass to Me! I am coaching Ava’s Third Grade basketball team. After the first practice their concept of the game seemed to be dribble around, if you got close to the basket you shot, and when you didn’t have the ball you were supposed to cry “Pass” or “Pass to me.” Our favorite play was the “dribble until someone takes the ball or you lose it” play.
Girl-to-Girl “D”: As far as defense, they get the gist, but it’s taken me a while to lose the habit of saying “man” as in “stay between your man and the basket.” Every time I say “man” a girl quickly corrects my sexist habit. It’s “OK, girls, stay on your girl!” And if that’s odd, why’s it man-to-man, even with boys, but not woman-to-woman?
Quick Learners: However, because girls belong to the superior sex, they learn quicker and have better attitudes. We started off the season with a 24-10 loss to the Purple Flames, and the second time we played them we turned it around and won, 26-10. Sniff, sniff, I’m so proud of them.
The “I’m sick” schtick: Universal conundrum in the vein of “crying wolf.” Gia (a Bulldog basketballer) has been using the “I’m sick” schtick lately. Kaya’s learning, too. As soon as they have to do chores, homework, take long rides, or wake up in the morning, they don’t feel too good. Play dates with friends, though, guarantee a quick recovery.
Two Winter Contrasts: The girls on the sled and the girls on the deck happened weeks apart. It was about 40 degrees on the deck, though.