After two years of Biddy Ball, Avery was finally old enough to join the kids who were playing timed games with refs and rules. The first night we showed up to practice I thought we were in the wrong place...the girls looked so much bigger than Avery!
The team played 10 regular season games and in the first few, Avery was very hesitant. Unsure of what to do, she just did her best to stay away from the basketball and any action that might cause physical contact. And she could not wrap her head around why anyone would slide or fall on the floor to get the ball.
Somewhere along the way it all just started to click for her. She began to get involved and wanted to be an active part of what was happening on the court. What a transformation over the season!
She reminds me so much of her daddy when she plays and I love to see the passion she developed.
So proud of the hard work she put in and the way she played through her fear.
Privately, her coach praised her growth. He said at the beginning she seemed nervous about being near the ball but by the end of the season she ended up being the best on-ball defensive player on the team.
Avery had some adoring fans there...Grammy drove a long way late at night (and waited for the game to start almost two hours late!!)
Their competitiveness and desire to win comes honestly...Shaun is one of THE most competitive people I know. He was her first hug as she melted into tears over the heartbreaking loss.
He was always quick to show her something in practice or explain something on the bench during a game and she appreciated his extra efforts.
I asked Avery if she would write about her experience, in her own words:
On Saturday I had a Basketball playoff game. I worked really hard. We had overtime twice. We played against Marlborough and we lost. It was sad because the score at the end was 13 to 16. I cried at the end. My team was for 3 and 4 graders. They were only girls. Their names were...and me. I was biting my fingernails in overtime. My coach is Coach Andy and he had his dad the bookkeeper. I was really sad, but it was okay.
She can't wait to get a chance at next year! Her sister will be joining the team as a 3rd grader. THAT should be interesting! :)
You will succeed in whatever you choose to do,
and light will shine on the road ahead of you.
Job 22:28
This is hard for me to wrap my head around! Seems like such a grown-up kid team/activity and it blows my mind to see pics of Avery in the middle of it all! She looks great on the court though...sounds like a very positive experience for her. We should get her to one of the UCONN Women's games with Mom and Dad!
ReplyDeleteAwww - sorry for the loss but tell Avery I love the pink in her shoes. Competitive - I get it !!1 Got two guys in my house who sometimes I feel are over the top lol. But love them for it.
ReplyDeleteYay, Avery!!!! So proud of you! So glad you had a good season and learned so much! I LOVED playing basketball in high school.--Wish I'd known your game started so late. I could have come after nursery.
ReplyDeleteI played a little bit of basketball when I was in high school (my sports were softball and swimming) but I know it's rough! Avery looks like she worked really hard and did a great job! Her hard work will pay off one day.
ReplyDeleteI see that you like your running shoes...do you run? I took up running about 5 years ago and love it! I'm so thankful to The Lord that I can still be active.
So proud of her! I never did get the hang of competing in sports - I was usually lost out there :)
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