My Coaching Debut

Its official, my high school girls basketball team has a winning record. Out of 5 games, we have won 3 (one in overtime by 1 point)! I absolutely love these girls. It is probably the most culturally diverse team you will ever see. Their countries of origin include Bolivia, USA, Switzerland, Taiwan, Japan, China, and Vietnam but all have grown up or at least lived here several years. They all know English quite well, but for most of them it is their second or third language. Their attitudes towards me and their teammates are 100% positive, and the only learning barrier that we sometimes encounter is when I use a basketball term that they have never heard before, such as 'block out', 'v-cut', 'turnover', or 'take a charge'. I am thankful to get my start as a coach in a country where basketball is NOT the ultimate sport (obviously that would be soccer). Here, we are lucky to have one practice and one scheduled game a week. The picture below is actually during the first game that we won. We set and accomplished some major team goals in that game...

...and thus, the girls held me to my bargain of having an ice cream party as a reward. Because our shindig fell just two days before my birthday, and because they are a thoughtful bunch, they surprised me with my very own birthday cake and signed the back of a Bolivian soccer jersey as a gift. Mike collaborated with them and put up decorations using balloons and toilet paper. That was a great day and birthday to remember!