Another RLI ripping yarn!
G’day lounge Lizards!
After two years of being runners up in the local basketball championship, I was approached last season and asked if I would coach the team. Well fark me swinging trendsetters, I said "fark yeah"!
Before I got sick two years ago, I had completed an 8 day coaching course covering all sports, I had previously coached Cricket and Rugby teams when I was in the Army, and when I got out of the Army I was also Security industry trainer for many years.
Basketball I said to myself, hmm, fark I said, I will just incorporate the basics and sprinkle some Cricket and Rugby drills voila!!!!!!!!!!! I thought.
Last year’s coach Terri has decided to be my assistant this year which is fantastic as I am still learning the game of basketball and the rules.
Training sessions this year, I took them through the basics, dribbling, passing and various shooting drills. The biggest problem this team had was in defence; they constantly crumbled to the pressure from opposition teams. They lacked confidence and were easily bullied on the court. I had to change this attitude; I had to install ASAP courage, fighting ability and tenacity to help us with our defensive game plan or we were farked!
During the various training sessions this year I would yell out instructions like, “ankle tap the bastards” Then a reply would come from my assistant Coach Terri, “Coach we cannot ankle tap in Basketball” “OK thanks for the heads up” I would say to Terri!
On another occasion I yelled out “Hip & Shoulder, get stuck into the pricks” Then another reply would come from Terri, “Coach we cannot Hip & Shoulder in Basketball” Fark, I would say to myself!”
When we lost our only game this year by one point, several of our players were injured caused by being punched and being tripped. I said to Terri during our Wednesday training session, “ the next time we play that team again, we will squirrel grip the buggers”. Typical Terri, “Coach we cannot squirrel grip the buggers in Basketball, it is not ethical, besides they are an under 13 girls team” Once again she was right!
I thought what about bouncers! Terri quick as a flash “What are bouncers Coach, somehow I am not going to like your explanation, am I” “Farkkk, your right Terri, I am not even going to try and explain it, I know it is Basketball and they are 12 year old girls!”
So far this season we have won 9 games and lost one, the game we lost was by a single point, we are currently sitting on top of the ladder. We have beaten the premiers twice this season, a task that we failed to do last year as we were beaten on all three occasions including the dreadful flogging we got in last year’s Grand final.
Hopefully we can go one step further, even though if we cannot “ankle tap the bastards, Hip & Shoulder the pricks, squirrel grip the buggers or carry out bouncers! lol”
The best thing I have installed is playing firm but fair, after every game we always shake hands with the opposition teams and tell them how good the game was. I am firm believer in being gracious in victory and humble when you lose, it is so important to never putt your opposition down or insult them, being a good sport helps foster camaraderie/mate-ship which are traits that are very important in life especially helping you being a good human being in society.
Has I finish writing this yarn, in the second half of our game this morning, I yelled out to our team “kick arse girls” Quick as a flash Terri replies “Coach please be mindful of your language” once again the parents and opposition parents have a laugh at my expense. Lol My two daughters just laugh, that's my dad they say!
PS, we won the game! I must be doing something right!
Regards,
RLI
:cheers:
