August 11, 2008
Tis The Season
So it is officially volleyball season and since the 7th grade volleyball is what I have done every single fall. Last year was my first season out of my college career of volleyball. It was really sad and mostly weird that I wasn't doing what I have done for past 9 years straight of my life! It was a good rest for me but here comes another season and what I am I going to do? Now I am getting back into volleyball NO I AM NOT GOING PROFESSIONAL OR TO THE OLYMPICS (LOL). I am coaching the Clearfield High School JV team. I am really excited and nervous all at the same time. Last week we started with conditioning and open gyms. That was a piece of cake I would have the girls run and then we would just go play around in the gym. It wasn't a lot of pressure and it was fun to help the girls. But today was officially tryouts and I HAD TO CUT GIRLS!! I have never done anything like that and it was reallly hard for me to do. I had to cut about 7 girls and tomorrow is 2nd cuts and I have to cut about 3 more! I seriously don't think I will be able to sleep tonight. I don't know why I am so worried about it, but I just hate to make people sad and it is not that I don't believe that the girls have potential. The fact is there is only a certain number of girls who can be on the team. For the past week I was really working hard with the girls who weren't as experienced to try to get them up to the next level but you can't pick up on something like this without a lot of practice. I just felt so bad today because the girls I cut were the ones I was mostly working with last week. It will be good and I know this is my first coaching experience where I actually have to cut girls and I know I will get over it. It has just kinda bothered me today as I left the gym knowing that those sweet girls who were trying so hard and woke up early in the morning all last week to go run their little guts out on the track had to go home and tell their parents that they didn't make the team. It just breaks my heart that those girls probably feel like they are not good enough and are feeling down on themselves. I guess I just need to be a tougher coach and get over it. The sooner the better cause we have 2 tournaments in August and I have to get my team ready.
There is a really sweet "special needs" girl who tried out for the team. She just moved from Lehi (I think) and the girls were so nice to her, especially the seniors. Unfortunetly she has never played before and we can't have her on the team but I offered her to be a "manager/player" for the team. Where she can come to all the practices and shag balls and be a a manager and part of the team. Then she can dress down for the games and we will let her jump in for a couple serves. When I put the "first cuts" paper up in the gym for the girls to see who made it she was so sad and then we pulled her over to talk to her about being a manager and her face light up like it was Christmas morning. She is so excited to be a part of the team and still hang out with the new friends that she made. It just really made my day to see all the girls love this special girl and be friends to her. I think this girl is so lucky to move to a new school and be best friends with all the volleyball girls. And I was already so proud of my little team for taking her under their wings!
So I am so excited for the season, my girls are awesome. Last year I guess they didn't do so well but this is a new year and a new team. So I will keep you posted on our team! Wish us luck!!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
That is so exciting Kellie!!! How fun, coaching volleyball! You'll do such a good job! And I would have had a hard time cutting girls too! :) It's probably something you'll always have a hard time with. My dad still does. But good luck with the season! And your photoshop skills are looking amazing!
How fun! I didn't know you coached. After my last season at BYU I kind of went through a wierd withdrawal stage too, coaching helped me stay connected. I really enjoyed it for a while (until I had Hailey of course). Good luck!
You know I love the story of your little manager. How sweet! Thanks for all your sweet support to us also, it means more than you'll ever know. Love you guys!
I know how you feel. I coach the JV team at Pocatello High school and our tryouts start tomorrow. We are required to have 4 days of tryouts so i don't have to worry about cuts till Tuesday but still...it's never easy. I love coaching though...it's definetly a different kind of rush than playing. I'd still rather play but coaching has been a very close second for me.
That is great Kellie! What a perfect way for you to get to continue doing what you love!
love the story of your manager. Coaching is so hard if you actually have a heart! :) you want everyone to have a good experience, but you know you can't keep them all. Its a good thing to have that awareness, make sure you never loose it! Good Luck!
Post a Comment