The Life of a Varsity Girls Basketball Intern: First Head Coaching Gig

Going into this past Saturday's game, I had been the Assistant Coach for both the Varsity Girls and JV Girls, as Coach Hamilton coaches both. For this past Saturday's JV game, I was named the interim head coach of the JV Girls.

Obviously, Coach Hamilton and I don't emphasize the JV games as much as the Varsity because there are no Championships or playoffs. However, we do take the games seriously because they are important to the girls and are critical in their development as individuals and in basketball. So, there was some pressure for me to do well, especially considering the way in which the JV head coaching reigns were handed over...

About an hour and a half before the JV game, Coach Hamilton approached me at 10 AM, and basically said, "oh yea, you're gonna be the head coach of the JV girls today."

As Jim Carrey would have said when playing the Mastermind Pet Detective in Ace Ventura, I responded by stating "well, alrighty then," as our JV girls were about to play one of their better opponents and I was hardly mentally prepared for the challenge. Further, my attire did not necessarily look the part of a head coach either, and, to girls, appearance is generally very important. My outfit included hunting boots, khakis, and a polo button-up, with the "hands on the hips" power stance. Fortunately though, the fashion police probably don't exist in Eatonton, GA, based on some of the costumes I saw in the crowd...

(Ace Ventura frequently uses the phrase, "well, alrighty then." That was my exact thought when told shortly before the game that I would be head coach)

However, in a strange way, not being mentally prepared can be a great thing because it does not allow for pressure to build up over time. There were few expectations. I figured once I get out of college, I need to be able to make quick decisions on my feet; so, I welcomed the challenge.

I felt I did well overall, as I was able to keep a light mood with the girls, while seriously implementing schemes and strategies. But, I did have one regret:

I WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH A PRE-GAME WARM-UP ROUTINE FOR THE GIRLS.

I concluded that if I were to have the girls perform a pre-game warm-up, it would look similar to that of the Purple Cobras in Dodgeball-Wouldn't that be great?!?

Slap, Slap...Hiss!

(Modeling our pre-game routine after that of White Goodman and the Purple Cobras would have intimidated the crap out of the other team)

Unfortunately, we lost the game, but, considering we did not have two of our best players, I was very pleased with the JV Girls' performance and effort.