It was two days before Thanksgiving and one of my team leaders, Lindsey Kentner, approached me about allowing the team to go home on Thursday. Even though we had the day off, I had told the team I wanted them to remain in Charleston. I understood her request, the need for the players to go home, to see family and friends, to feel loved and appreciated by those who were closest to them.
Yet, I told her no. It was a hard decision, one I hated to make. It is not easy to tell a young person that sacrificing Thanksgiving with the family is necessary in order to get a win. It wasn't about being home or with the family. I would have loved for each one of them to enjoy that special day with loved ones. The problem is the fatigue attached to the travel.
We are tired. We played three games in four days last week, two of them on the road four hours away from home. Even with a day off on Sunday, the team had not recovered by Monday's practice. We were lethargic, barely moving. Worse than the physical symptoms of fatigue, our brains were not working. In the next seven days, we have three more games.
A few years ago, I allowed a group of players to go home for Thanksgiving. When they came back, we lost our next two games. They couldn't move. I swore then I wouldn't ever allow a team to travel over a single day and a half. I haven't yet.
I haven't been home for Thanksgiving since I was 17 and that 32 years ago. First as an athlete and then as a coach, I've been busy playing games or practicing. One year I was in Budapest, Hungary preparing for the World Championships. Another year, the team was on the bus driving 8 hours away for a game after having gorged on turkey and dressing. I didn't know then turkey was a natural sedative. I learned another hard lesson that year. We lost that game too.
I am not saying a game is more important than family. I don't believe that for a nanosecond, but I do know the hard work and dreams we have are worth the sacrifice for a single year. I hope they forgive me. I hope they understand I was looking out for their best interest. I hope they know they can have many more family Thanksgivings unless, of course, they choose to coach.
I am thankful this year I have this team. I am thankful for the wonderful people they are. I am thankful for their efforts. I am thankful they know their coach is just helping them find their dreams.
ONE HEART. ONE DREAM!
About Coach Winn....
- Coach Winn
- Sherry M. Winn
Head Coach, Women's Basketball
University of Charleston
Intensity is the word which best describes Coach Winn. As an athlete, a student, and a coach, she has always displayed concentrated focus. This focus has led her to numerous awards. As a player, she reached the epitome of all athletics—the Olympic Games. In both 1984 and 1988, she was a member of the United States Team Handball Olympic Team.
Read Coach Winn's full bio here.
1 comment:
I agree with the statement that basketball comes first. Now I understand why coaches are so bitter around the holidays. We got Turkey Day off and came back a had a scrimmage.....bombed it. I hate to say it but we needed more practice, coach just told us to be prepared for the practice in the morning. I thought we were going to have a review day and go over the things we did wrong, oh buddy was I more than wrong.
We ran sprint after sprint after suicide, he made up things i’ve never even heard of.....which scared me a little. I can never tell what he is thinking, but I knew today running was on his mind. I think in the near future we could be potential track stars.
I recently read this post and I felt like it needed to be commented on, because it applies to me in life. Most players don’t understand the reasoning behind coaches descions “including myself” but almost all the time your wise yet “unreasonable” descisons are indeed correct. From our viewpoint as a “player” we think you are seeking out to punish us in every way possible whether it be sprints or lack of water brakes ........in other words resting periods. I know this because I, myself as a player do these things.
Anyway back to the subject i’ve had my fair share of good and bad coaches throughout my basketball career. An you are the craziest i’ve encountered but you hide it well, ya see your one of those coaches that will let a little bit of goofing around go on such as acessive lafter and even “skipping” to a position, when you are serious....very serious trying to get your point across. You are laughing a little on the inside, but you are stewing up and almost boiling inside to make a drill or punishment to “exercise the second type of laughter” which are “tears”. I’ve heard a coach say there is no crying in basketball, an I think he’s right. I mean you don’t see navy men crying because they are “Tough, Macho” well women's basketball is sort of the same way, but we have ponytails. No fun, this is a job, business, “life” is what they should call it. Because once you spend more then 72 hours in a gym it’s like the law, after that you are shackled to the game.
I think your a great coach some beg to differ but you have once tasted victory with your handball champion. Yes, I’ll admit I have no idea what that is, but I respect the amount of time and discipline it took to get there.You through a ball around and won a championship, now I’m sure it’s much more than that. I’m sure you got up early and hated every minute of it. Ran till you thought your lungs would just give up, or even drank so much water that you feel the Pacific Ocean is inside your stomach. I might be wrong but I know that you had to give it your best all the time or you wouldn’t have won. I read your little stories and they always make me have a different outlook on life, I think in all honesty you’ve made me a better person.....and player.
Post a Comment