I'm coming home! - It's over.

It pained me to get up with the alarm today, knowing that a big drive was ahead of me, and all the passengers would be able to enjoy a nap and I wouldn't have that chance till I was on the plane.

I glance outside to make sure there is movement in the girl's cabins. Fortunately I didn't have to worry as they were all up and moving about. I didn't think to check on the coaches cabin which I will soon find out was a bad idea. 

I start to pack the bus with the luggage, and with only 10 mins before we needed to leave I still hadn't seen the coaches surface, so I pop my head in to get the keys to the car and they are only just starting to move. It seems they were up quite late. They scurry together to get out as quick as they are capable of (which was not particularly fast). 

We finally head out and make our way to the airport. As predicted everyone has had the chance to pick up an extra hour's sleep during the journey. Except me of course and sipped away on a super size Red Bull energy drink all the way. 

The trip isn't too bad, and we get to Melbourne Airport in plenty of time. But my goodness the place is absolutely packed. People everywhere, and I am very grateful all of a sudden that I am travelling with Qantas today.
I get the girls to line up their luggage and send them off with some money to get breakfast, and I wait at the counter to make sure all their bags get on the conveyor belt. With the craziness of the airport and lines everywhere, it seemed to make sense to send them on their way. 

Once again all the NSW teams check in together and we all support each other to get through the check in process. The medal winning teams travel with their medals on which is very cool. 

I am reminded of how thoughtful my girls are when I can't find a seat with anyone and am forced to sit on my own, and within seconds I have 4 girls around me, wanting to sit with me, so I am not alone. 

This has been a fun ride, but I am definitely feeling like I am ready to be at home with my own family. We board the plan, but this time we are all over the plane and not all together like on the way down. This turned out to be a bit of an issue as I found out at the conclusion of the flight I had a player who was unwell and probably could have benefited from the support of her team manager. 

The flight itself gave me a chance to have a small power nap, which was abruptly ended by a feeling that the plane was going to fall out of the sky. It seems there was a lot of turbulence which may have also affected the rough landing, but we got there eventually.

Once off the plane I led the way to the baggage carousel and the girls pull off all the bags. There are a couple of parents to meet us at the airport, and some travelling on trains, and others going to the 'kiss and ride' zone.

We hug goodbye and the coach and I drive home, another hour or so away. He sleeps while I drive, and we arrive home in no time at all. I actually make my way to our club's stadium as my daughter had played, and husband had coached, there earlier today (and won). Apparently an incredible game where they had a major comeback after being as much as 17 points down. I was proud of both of them and had wished that I'd been there to see it. 

I squeeze my kids so tightly and am so glad to see them and my hubby. I am so grateful to them for their support in allowing me to be the manager of this team. It really is a team effort as they all had to make sacrifices for me to be a part of this.

I would also like to thank you all for following me along this journey. I hope that you have enjoyed reading each day. I am amazed at the amount of people who have been logging on each day to have a look at the day to day events. 

Till next time........

Yours in basketball,

Hannah Pate

Day 10 - End of the tournament

Waking up to the final full day is so surreal. We all got a great nights sleep in the lead up to the final game and all the formalities of the closing ceremony and medal matches. Sadly not ours but we will be proud to support our state in the men's Gold medal match later tonight.
We hear an announcement at the park letting us know that there will be a power outage at 11am, right at the time I was planning to have lunch which consisted of all the leftovers and toasted sandwiches. All requiring electricity. So when the coaches let me know they are taking the girls for a walk I freak out slightly as that will mean they will only be back just around 11am. I had hoped they would clear out the food so then I could start the departure plans.  I had already decided to skip cooking tonight because the girls were keen to watch both the boys and girls Gold Medal matches, so an early dinner (and treat) of pizza was going to happen.
But we need to get through our game today, as we play off for either 7th or 8th, putting our team in the top half of the country. That's a bit spesh. But today we were playing for pride and the hope that we can end on a high. We play WA Metro which will be a nice way to end our campaign, as we have been sharing the holiday park with this team, and they have bonded well with the girls when we have been away from the court. Today wasn't necessarily about winning, but about finishing on an effort that the girls were proud of.
We squeezed in lunch, some managed to get their toasted sandwiches and reheated pastas done before the power had been disconnected. There were so many options in salad wraps and sandwiches too, so they were spoilt for choice.
They look determined today as we are heading onto the bus to our game. We are greeted by the families for the last time, in fact less than normal as some had taken off home due to the drive ahead. I guess if we were playing off for a medal they'd have hung around to cheer.
Fortunately the game was a hit and we managed to take out the win as our final time on the court together. WA Metro were gracious in defeat and were all hugs and high fives at the end. It was a tight game the whole way through so it was great to have a successful final match. We were ranked 7th.
I finally was able to handover the towels and drink bottles I had so meticulously counted, folded, washed and filled over the last 7 days of competition. I am convinced I can only count to 10.
10 towels,
10 drink bottles
10 singlets
10 shorts
10 polos
10 warm up tops
10 back packs
It was cleansing to hand these items over and not have to do anything more with them.
During the game I was handed the team photos which I pack away quickly. There is nothing more distracting to a teenage girl than the thought of seeing her own photo and how she looks or doesn't look. I save those for later, so we say lots of goodbyes to families at this point as the craziness of the final matches and closing ceremony is often avoided by those without a child featuring in it. Also the trek home was commencing for many families as they all have a number of hours of travel ahead.
We come back to the accommodation and the party atmosphere begins. Soon chocolate and cheeseburgers arrive courtesy of our coaches and we sit down to be able to present the girls with the team photos and certificates for their participation in the tournament. The coach takes the time to say something about each player and member of staff. It's a nice way to end a long 10 days.
Before long the pizza arrives and the girls scoff it down to be able to get going for the final games for the tournament.

While the team enjoy the girl's grand final I pop to the club upstairs to enjoy a quiet dinner with the coaches parents. It was nice to get away from all the noise but also to spend some time with them, they are an awesome couple.
Finally its time for the men's match up and as an all NSW final it was a touching moment to see the game start with lots of hugs and hand shaking by players and staff. The moment the game ended in the NSW Country boys favour the reaction from the crowd and the players gives me goosebumps and nearly had me in tears. The outpouring of emotions is a rare thing for men (and indeed young men) and the happy tears were too much for me. I can be quite a sook at the best of times.
Following the end of game celebrations comes the closing ceremony. The formalities of medal presentations and council men speeches filled up the night. Although something really stuck with me tonight.
There was a speaker who talked about 'our' sport. I loved that as he collectively asked the young players to continue to be involved, not only to play but to give back. He spoke to the crowd made up of parents, administrators and volunteers and urged them to continue to support the sport at all levels. Men and women, young and old, let's make OUR sport the best it can be in Australia. If I had the opportunity I would have gone up there and hugged him. Particularly as my support of the sport is so strong, and my promotion of the women's game in particular is quite vocal. It was nice to hear that someone far more important than me shared my views. There are many people in this sport that could take a leaf out of his book to make sure this sport continues to have longevity for both men and women.
Once again the incredible camaraderie in the NSW camp continued for both players and staff. It was special to be a part of that. It was a privileged to stand alongside you all in the same uniform.
After the ceremony there was a flurry of activity with photos, shirt signings, cutting of the net etc, and eventually we head home.

The team are really wanting to party with the boys, but as it was already late (and I was tired) I declined the request for me to drive them over to where the boys team were staying. I was also considering that in the morning I had to be able to drive and hour and half back to the airport with a bus load of girls. I just didn't want to risk being over tired and also had a big clean up to do with all the food and left overs in the cabin. The girls were disappointed, and tried a couple of times to convince me. Without success with me they then tried the coach of the boys team who also happened to be the father of one of the girls. He caved and packed up the boys and brought them to us.
Before they all arrived I laid some ground rules and then turned off my lights and went to bed.

Day 9 - supporting NSW

Woke up this morning and couldn't really move. Seems that my back has decided to pack it in and not play anymore. Or perhaps I just slept funny. Either way, I shuffle around getting breakfast ready. The morning walk has been postponed to after breakfast as we had heard that Lake Wendouree is beautiful and has a walking path all the way around. Although we won't be walking the whole 6 kms all the way around. I grab some Nurofen and Deep Heat and finish serving breakfast.
The lake was simply gorgeous and incredibly peaceful.

While the girls walked I enjoyed the scenery and had a quick catch up with the coach. My role is not just to be there for the girls but to also provide support to the coaching staff when needed. As the oldest member of staff (just) I feel a maternal responsibility for all of them. Our staff are quite young at 36, 22 & 21 I think we have the youngest staff at Nationals. it has been a tough campaign on them as well as the players, so its important to provide a friendly ear from time to time.
The girls take in the surroundings as countless walkers and runners pass us by. This setting was once the rowing venue for the 1956 Olympics and also the same lake that Steve Moneghetti used to run around (and the track has since been named after him). It is pretty cold, but made bearable by how stunning the lake looks.

We come back and spend some time chilling out and having a team chat before we take on our nemesis VIC Country, who in a shock loss yesterday were played out of a semi final spot by a 4th placed team. An early lunch was in order to be prepared for our game. The girls start to get ready to go and we head off.
We are welcomed by all the families and also an addition today. Jasmine who was sadly ruled out of playing for us, by injury  sustained as she currently is training at the AIS. It was great to see her and we invited her to come and sit on our bench to lend her support. I was secretly hoping that she might bring a little boost to the girls, Both teams had a lot to prove on the court, as on paper they both really deserved to be playing off for a higher position than 5th place.The consistency of the VIC Country team and our girls being a bit flat made for a bit of blow out. 

It means that we would then need to play off for 7th or 8th spot tomorrow. Not exactly the medal hunting we had come to fulfill. But we need to regroup to put us in the best possible position tomorrow.
The girls and coaches soon finished up their end of game routine of stretches, family chats and removal of sports tape, We then decided to once again support NSW Country boys in their semi final. A win for them will put them into the gold medal match. They played well and got the win. It was enjoyable to watch. 

Before we head home a quick chat with a performance coach from BNSW and then finally on our way home for showers and dinner. I have organised BBQ chickens, potatoes and vegetables. Another simple but hearty meal. The BBQ chickens are pre-cut and ready to go and can be purchased at most major supermarkets instead of having to hunt down a chicken shop or corner store. 

Another team chat back at home to clear the air about the day, and then we enjoy dinner and get going again, this time to support the NSW Metro men who will be also playing for a spot to contest the NSW Country men in the Gold Medal final. A great win by them too makes tomorrow night's Gold Medal match an all NSW final. Impressive. 

We come back home to chill a bit, well the girls do, as I head off to wash the uniforms and return to find the washing up completed, and I had a bit of a chat with one of the girls. They are really great kids, and I am going to miss having them around.

Now the planning for the departure begins, We will clean out the left overs and think about planning the journey home. Last day of games tomorrow. 

Day 8 - what just happened?

A little on the cooler side this morning, perhaps that's why I drifted off again after the alarm going off. It was pretty cosy in my bed with the electric blanket on. I had washed some extra uniforms and had them all out to dry in the room, making it look a bit like a laundromat. But I will not be risking these beautiful uniforms in the caravan park industrial dryer.

Adding to the regular toast, cereal, Up & Go's, yoghurt, and fruit breakfast was a few pancakes. The girls have been eyeing off the shakers for days now. So I put them out of their misery and hoped that it would give them the boost they needed for today's very important game. A win today will put us in the top 4 teams in the country. I have been doing my best to give the girls some variety in their meals which is hard as breakfasts and lunches for 14 people can be hard to change much.
Fortunately the girls are creatures of habit and game day breakfast (well everyday) is quite fine to keep it the same, with a variation every few days.
The girls seem ready to go and keep to go out and get the win. They have already walked before breakfast and get into their uniforms early so the coach can run through a few plays on a small basketball court here at the accommodation. I really wanted to jump back into bed, as the tail end of the trip means that we are all getting more tired. The girls are anxious to get going as they start to meander outside with their back packs on, so I get ready quickly and head out.
About a KM down the road I realise that I have left the lollies behind. This is a staple that are often needed to pep up the sugar levels, and the spirits, at half time and the end of the game. For the superstitious amougnst us it was important to have these and not just pick up some others at the stadium's canteen. So I drop the girls off and head back home to get them. Fortunately its about 10 mins away and we were ahead of schedule. Phew.

We had our team chat in the changeroom, then hit the courts for warm ups. I am not sure exactly what happened today on the court, but we were not able to reign in a very neat and accurate team, and lost the game that took us out of medal contention. The girls were understandably disappointed and would agree it wasn't their best game. However there were, as always, some great things that happened throughout the game, both from the bench and on the court, so it never is all bad.
Our Country boys were playing straight after us, so we hung about to lend our support, and I enjoyed a nice coffee.

We enjoyed Subway for lunch, then headed home for showers and to regroup. Its actually pretty cool to have so many of them want to support our other NSW teams, because they ask if they can go and watch the NSW Metro boys play. How can I say no to that?
I had some other things to do, so the coaches and the girls were dropped off while I grabbed some food for dinner and did the washing.
Manager tip - cooking cheat - So tonight's dinner was ridiculously easy. I made some pasta, added some of those simple stir through sauces and to give it some protein I bought a few BBQ chickens and stripped all the chicken off it, diced it up and threw it in too (with some help from a couple of the girls). Was a great hearty and healthy dinner, and so easy.
The girls watch some Home and Away, and one of the ACs hang about for some company. We just chill out till it's bed time.
Tomorrow we play a team we have played very first, and got close, so we will be looking for something to prove. A good night sleep and a new day tomorrow!
For not a lot happening today, it was a realllllly looooooong day.
I would like to wish all the other NSW teams the very best of luck tomorrow as they all play in Semi Finals. If it can't be us, I hope it's one of them.

Day 7 - Looking for GOLD

Our mornings have been quite relaxed which has been great to keep the routine and normality. Today's game was earlier again this morning so we had less time to fill in between breakfast and the game.
Making sure the uniforms are dry has become one of my biggest overnight stresses. I crank the air conditioning, and basically sweat it out till the morning. Fortunately this tactic has worked.
After breakfast clean up is done, I set up a sandwich station for lunch in preparation for the afternoon we had planned. We were trying to save time by eating lunch on the way home from the game so we could have a quicker turnaround at home.
We arrived to see the state wheelchair basketball teams. It's hard not to be inspired when you watch. I'd love to see some more, and think that it would be great to come back and support NSW in another game before the week's out.
The game is one that is a little more predictable as we are playing the Northern Territory. We respect this team for their tenacity and the way that they conduct themselves and never give up.
It was an entertaining game to watch with a lot of equal time on the court. I felt part of the game today. I had to chase down a loose ball, and use my 'lightning fast reflexes' to catch a ball that came right at my head.
Our win puts us in the Quarter Finals !!!! Yahoo!

 The game ended with a large scoreline difference but the NT team took it all in their stride and were extremely gracious in defeat. A lot of players could learn a lot from them.
The coaches and us part ways as they go off to scout for the rest of the day. The girls eat their lunch on the way home and they do recovery before getting ready to head out. I know the hoodies that I arranged for them have NSW Country PRIDE, and never a truer word was spoken. As the girls came out of their cabins they are all in NSW gear, proud to wear their polos and as it was an unseasonably warm day they all fished out Basketball NSW shorts from a variety of camps, and representative opportunities. They looked great, so we loaded up the bus and headed for Sovereign Hill, a period setting tourist attraction set in the gold rush times of old. All staff are actors and are in period costumes, and you feel like you've taken a step onto an old western.
The girls are truly hilarious as they walk in and set their eyes on the place, and one said 'is this what it looked like? I could NOT have lived back then, show me the Wifi'. Ahhhhh kids these days.
They headed off to the gold panning, as many thought that they would find their 'gold'.
Funnily enough their uniforms are attracting attention with a number of people wanting to have their pictures taken with them.

The girls didn't find the gold they were seeking, so resigned themselves to the fact that they would need to pursue another type of gold.....on the court.
They got to dip candles, sit in an old church and watch a gold bar being poured. All lots of fun. I wondered whether the Lord's Prayer they recited in the old church was to bring some devine intervention to the remaining games.

They grew tired quickly so we headed home so the girls could have some down time before dinner and I could go and grab some ingredients for dinner as the girls were keen for some Mexican. While I was shopping they challenged some of the WA boys teams to some ping pong, as we have the whole state's teams here sharing the park with us too.
Once again I have a few visitors wanting to help with dinner, so I put them to work chopping and preparing, and dinner is ready in no time at all. They girls decide to head up to the rec room to watch a movie, while I clean up after dinner.
The coaches finally come home and are famished. I've kept them some dinner so while they arrive home the girls all start to filter into the room and I listen to stories and enjoy the company. Our head coach headed back to pick up a plate from his room, only to return moments later asking for help from the AC. It appears that 3 huntsman spiders have appeared above the door, and has a fear of them. I totally understand the fear of spiders. I have been known to jump a mile just knowing they are being spoken about. I believe that our very own Abbey George happily killed it. She is so brave. Our AC also obliged by doing the washing up for me too. Legendary, because that's a job I very much dislike.
I pick up some supplies for the morning and the coaches and some of the team watch some tape from the games of the opposition we have tomorrow. I decide to have an early night and turn off the lights to finish this blog then off to bed for our big day tomorrow. Bring it on!!!

Day 6 - Challenges to conquer

Woke up suddenly this morning and thought that I had slept in. I had slept so incredibly well and hadn't stirred at all in the night that I had actually slept all the through to 30 seconds before my alarm was due to go off. Bliss!
The girls went off for wander and I got to starting the bacon and eggs as a hearty inclusion to the normal breakfast menu. It had rained over night, but wasn't as cold as we had experienced other days. With an earlier game today we had a much shorter time to kill in between breakfast and our game. I've had so many visitors asking if they can help, its been such an awesome thing. So todays helpers were given the job of making Vegemite sandwiches so they had something to eat on the way back after the game.
We have a fruit morning tea, and the girl watch some film on the opposition just before we load up the bus and head off to the game.
Today's game is important as it helps contribute to the overall ranking in our pool and determines who we will play from the other pool in what they call a 'crossover game'.
We head out to the stadium and catch the tail end of another win for our NSW Country Men.
Our game finally starts and we show early signs of strength. The game literally see'd and saw'd the whole time, We went from down as low as 10 points under to stage a massive comeback to score 24 points putting us 14 in front. Sadly we didn't come away with the win, but we learnt a number of lessons and there was lots to be proud of. In particular how they showed what they are capable of.
It was a sad loss for the girls, made worse by the lead they had I think.

We needed to regroup and assess what happened. The girls returned home for a recovery session, then off to Subway as a treat for lunch.
Once we arrived home the team regrouped and had a team chat which was hugely successful and putting them in the right frame of mind to tackle the rest of the tournament,
Little preparation from me today as we had already planned to have a family dinner where we could bring together all the families and supporters and enjoy a meal together. There is a bistro attached to the basketball stadium here and it was Parma Night. Perfect! Particularly as this is one of our coaches favourite meals.

It was nice to have all the families together, And it was a perfect setting for basketball lovers, as we overlooked the main court at the stadium too. I did the rounds of the families to have a chat with everyone. I am asked by all of them how things are going back here at 'home'. I was so pleased to be able to say that I feel so fortunate to have a great group of girls that are awesome at lending a hand. I get thanks after every meal, offers of help all the time and even thanks when the bus stops as they are hopping out. I am finding that I feel like an air hostess having to have a sequence of ways to respond to thanks.
"You're welcome, no worries, that's ok, cheers, you're very welcome, too easy........then repeat. A last minute dash out for some bread for brekky then I think I might attempt an early night.
I feel like today simply disappeared so quickly. I really can't believe that we have only 4 days of competition left now.

Day 5 - I'm still alive

It is fascinating to me that there are so many people reading this. It's over 600 now. Truly amazing that me talking about my day might be of interest to so many.

I also forgot to mention the other day that I got a shout out from Basketball Australia on Twitter too.

There was a more relaxed start to the day and the coaches wanted to take the girls for a short training session, so after breakfast we jumped aboard the bus to go to training. It was lots of fun, but still getting the work done the coaches wanted. That is what I love about this coaching staff, there is a great balance of work and fun. The girls are looking relaxed and focused and the bus rides are always a blast. We crank the music up and the bus shakes every time the bass drops. We don't, however listen to full song cause the girls get sick of a song and skip it on to the next. Reminds me of my husband who is always skipping songs on our travels too.

It's easy to loose track of what day of the week it is. I know my husband went back to work today as his regular messages I have been enjoying over the last couple of days have stopped, understandably. Also we noticed kids in school uniforms as we were driving around, making it clear that school is back too. Obviously the VIC school holidays are different to NSW cause our team aren't back at school till next Monday.

We had no plans to hang about after training this morning so we headed home for some showers and a fruit break. A few chose to whip up a toasted sandwich. Once again the close proximity of the supermarket came in handy as I popped out to fill up on some supplies while the girls and the coaches watched some tape of the opposition. I returned to set up a sandwich station for lunch then thought it was time to balance the books. As the team manager you're always collecting receipts and making sure all adds up. 

With coffee and laptop in hand I decided to sit outside as the weather has been amazing.

Not before long it's game time, so the girls came together and jumped on the bus. We arrived at the stadium to see the final stages of a game played by the NSW Country Men. They were having a great game and staged a comeback since half time, similar to our game yesterday. They had a win, and while they are stretching to complete their 'warm down' the girls were stretching to warm up ready for the match up against QLD North.

I got the chance to have a quiet word to one of our players about today's game. She thought that she played terrible yesterday, and not scoring any points at all was a rare thing for her. I spoke to her about how the best players in the world, who train more than she does and get paid millions of dollars because of how they play, can also have bad days. I reassured her that she needs to focus on the games ahead, not in the past, and most importantly we all have faith in her ability. 

"Awww thanks Han" was her grateful response. The role of a manager is not simply the physical needs, water, food etc, you're the nurturer too. I also have a firm belief that every child deserves to feel like a winner, and every amazing athlete is only one person away from being a champion. Being that one person should be the goal of each and every person involved in junior sports. It's such a privilege to share those moments with the players. 

Time for tip off and our girls came out of the gate firing and it became obvious quite early that we were very capable of out playing this team. We just needed to stay focused and keep executing the plays that they had all practiced over the 3 weekend camps, a preseason tournament, and the training sessions that we had done since arriving in VIC. We nearly made it 100! Falling short only by 5 points. Very impressive showing by the girls today. We were supported by our men's team who cheered us on from the sideline, and from what we've heard, they were also impressed with the level of play their saw. Girls are representing!!!

During the game today I fumbled a couple of drink bottles and made quite a mess. It was hilarious....well I thought so anyway, because fortunately no one else saw and wasn't captured on the game film either. Phew.

Our very cool accommodation comes complete with an indoor pool and spa which is perfect for recovery. So as soon as we got home the girls made a beeline for it. 

I headed back into the kitchen to rustle up a very big batch of Chicken Carbonara. I love this dish because there is little washing up and it's actually pretty simple to make, and tastes delicious. The girls had certainly worked up an appetite and were ready to devour their dinner. 

My favourite part of today was all the visitors I had in my cabin during, and after dinner. The coaches and I sat together for a chat and some laughs. Then we had a whole lot of the team pop in to laugh tell stories and the best part, wash up! Everyone lent a hand, and I just sat and enjoyed the entertainment. Who needs TV? They shared stories of which basketball event/camp they first met and how they used to hate playing each other, and over time have become friends (for life quite possibly). This is truly the best part about the sport in Country NSW. They truly have the opportunity to grow amazing friendships. It's extremely special. 

The girls watch over their game from today and then head to bed for an early night. Can't wait for tomorrow. Each day is better than the last. 

Day 4 - Play as a team - and you'll be unstoppable

I am not really used to being on my own. I have my own room with no-one sharing with me. After being married so young, at 18, I basically went from being a teenager living at home to moving in with my hubby, to then having 2 kids not long after (who are both basketballers too now). I can count on one hand the amount of nights I have spent on my own, and by the end of Nationals it will be more than my entire life till now.

Interestingly that means that there are some girls in my team that are the same age I was when I got engaged. But enough about me. It's just a reflection on how much I love company. 

I was awoken this morning, by one of the girls, who was concerned about a player as they weren't acting themselves as they woke. I am not a morning person either, but the difference is this player is a diabetic. All I can say is how much respect I have for Type 1 diabetics. They manage food, and their lifestyle so incredibly well. It is amazing that a young lady, only 16 years old, and an elite athlete juggles all that she needs to with such incredible ease that we don't even realise that its happening. A real credit to her, and to her parents for the support and coping skills they have passed onto her. 

She joined the walk to have a chat with the coach and that was my cue to get the scrambled eggs underway. I may have over done it......actually I probably made enough eggs to also feed our competition, but more about them later.
We were fortunate to have a bit of an earlier game today so there wasn't too much we needed to do to fill in the day. The coaches got the girls to watch yesterdays game and gave them the chance to see what went well and what they can do better. It was a good opportunity for them to not only critique themselves and each other. I was not spared from the critique either, I was questioned as to why there was one time out that I did not supply the teams with the water bottles (a task that is the bread and butter of a basketball team manager). I was happy to explain myself, just a case of returning to the change room for a replacement asthma puffer, but was great to be included in the team assessment, and gave me a bit of chuckle. 

It was just what I needed, as I had shed a quiet tear this morning as while the girls and coaches were watching the video I was receiving text messages from mums back home. My husband was coaching and both my daughters were playing basketball at 2 different locations back in NSW, and apparently my younger daughter Boston was playing incredibly well in a Semi Final for the Central Coast Academy of Sport in the ClubsNSW Academy Games. It was great to hear how she was going, but to get so many messages I knew she was doing awesome, and as one of the youngest players in the squad I was so proud. But of course I was not there to see it myself. I know that I am probably a big sook, but a reflective moment to appreciate your managers as they are often making sacrifices to be there for you. I know my team are grateful. Thanks my chickadees and coaches. 

I thought that the girls might like to hit the grocery shop for some room snacks (healthy of course).  gave each room some cash and off they went while I collected a few necessary bits and pieces. They were stoked to be able get out and do a spot of shopping.
When we got home it was time to eat lunch which we once again got to do in the sunshine. It's so peaceful here. It's not exactly like being on holidays but it's nice to have somewhere like this to retreat to between games and commitments. 

The uniforms were a little damp still so we hung them out in the sunshine. This helped, but some were still a little bit wet. The girls are so sweet and don't make me feel like an idiot about it, they just carry on and not another word is spoken about it. Bless them. 

Our girls are ready, and quite adamant that they wanted to come home with a win.My friend Gerard was there to greet me near the changerooms again, and he remembered my name too. Impressive. No real signs of nerves, just determination.

The girls had all brought some washing for their parents so while they were preparing for the game I distributed the stinky laundry bags. It was great to catch up with a couple of parents who had arrived later and then made my way for the last team chat before we hit the court. 

It was truly a great game. The girls smashed it, and after being down by 1 point at half time staged a great comeback to win by 18. They dug deep. The amazing thing is that I still don't even think we have seen the best of them yet. Pretty exciting thought. 

Lots of hugs and high fives from the family and supporters. It was great to have a win under our belts. I was so proud of how the girls lifted in the second half and really worked hard and as a team. 

After kissing the parents good bye, we headed off to watch the NSW Metro team as they had some tough competition in the VIC Metro sqaud. We watch most of it and cheered them on. It was great to see Shannon Seabohm there, who I had met last year through being a member at the Sydney Uni Flames. He is such a cool guy, and deserving of all his coaching successes. 

Dinner would have been tricky to work out tonight until a stoke of genius from the AC where we would do a simple pasta dish and package it in takeaway containers to take to yet another NSW team's game to support them too. So we went home, and the girls showered while I got dinner together. 

Sadly earlier that day a young man from Queensland had done a knee injury in the warm ups. It was heartbreaking to see and our thoughts went out to him. He was taken out in an ambulance, but of course as he couldn't be moved delayed the games on that court, so by the time we finally arrived they were only just starting. 

The girls ate their pasta while the NSW Country boys played, and won!! 

So finally we all get to head home, and with finally some time on my hands I headed to laundry to do the ever fabulous washing of the uniforms. I must say I love the industrial washing machines that are here. Fast and awesome for a time poor team manager.

I am interested tonight as I read through many reports on the Nationals down here. You'd be mistaken for thinking that there aren't even any girls teams here. So many websites just reporting on the boys program. I feel quite strongly about the inequality for women in our sport. We have incredible talent, yet there is not equal support or coverage. Our young ladies have equally sacrificed, and trained to be here.....they simply deserve the same as the boys. The boys club aspect of sport is only exacerbated by some coaches and I agree our games are different, but that doesn't mean its inferior. Its time to be real men and encourage your young players to support their female counterparts and as parents of young men, consider what messages you are sending your sons. And of course thank you to those who continue to be a shining light for women's basketball.

Our day is finally complete and the night is going to be cold, so the girls pop over for a warm Milo and we are all off to bed with tomorrow being another opportunity to show what we are made of. 

Day 3 - #GAMEDAY & Gratitude

3 days into the trip and we finally get to play - when I say 'we' I am not personally taking the court of course.
The morning started early with a brisk walk. The coaches and the players went out into the 'fresh' morning while I got breakfast out and ready to go.
We get through breakfast and I sneak a quick 20 minute power nap before we have to head out to training. The girls shoot around for about 45 minutes and the stadium is all a buzz as first matches were due to kick off just half an hour after our training. You can feel that anticipation in the air. Love that feeling of game day. The girls are relaxed, but ready. We still have a lot of hours to go, but our preparations have brought us to today.
Remember those friends I made yesterday, well one of them (the very friendly canteen manager) hand delivered our coffees to training. Rather that have me wait for them to be made. Winning.
We had stocked up on some healthy snacks and decided to check out some of the competition that were playing at another venue. Ordinarily the coaches do this (its called scouting) and then report to the team the various players to look for, their strengths, weaknesses etc. But today we thought we would all have a look at who we were up against. There are some very short teams out there, but despite having some height in ours, it doesn't mean that we can rest of our behinds that's for sure. Being at Nationals is really cool.
We have a little bit of down time so the girls fill up the rest of their day with lunch, sleep/rest and hanging around chatting. We had some visitors to our accommodation that helped keep some of the girls occupied. Our Head Coaches parents popped in to say hi, who are complete basketball tragics. I often think that I will be much like them when I am retired, following my favourite teams around the countryside.
They have been a wonderful support to me, as being Victorians they have been close enough to bring me some of the items that were too big to pack, and offering to lend a hand with last minute issues and requests. They also were so kind to organise support hoodies/shirts for our team.  When I designed our team gear weeks ago, the idea of having our families all in the same gear would be cool. So if you see someone with the below design on their shirts, they are supporter of the NSW Country Women.

So a bit thanks to Diane and Bill. Very cool couple indeed. 

FINALLY it is time to get ready for the game. The girls are so eager, and I am not surprised, after being here for 3 days its great for them to start to get into what they are here to do. Compete!

We are up against the team with the home court advantage VIC Country. The silver medalists from last years Nationals. We arrive and head into our change room. Definitely a little bit of tension in the air, but all these girls (except 1) have been before. So it's great to have that experience.  The maturity they display is really beyond their years. It's great really. I had a quiet moment in the change room to tell them all how proud I was of all of them and how grateful I am to be their manager. Of course also made another friend in Gerrard  who was in charge of making sure our changerooms were all ready for us when we needed them. He is a lovely elderly man that used to coach many moons ago yet still involved and volunteering his time. 

The coaches arrive and do their thing....and off we go. 

I definitely felt the gratitude today of my awesome families, when the team's names were read out and at the very end, when they said my name and the cheers were so loud. Thanks so much, it warmed my heart. 

Sadly the girls went down by 11 points, But certainly did themselves proud that's for sure. 

We didn't really get much down time before we had to get dressed and ready for the opening ceremony. It's a formality where you hear from dignitaries about how great it is to be a part of this experience. Many people don't like it, but I still get goosebumps when they call out NSW Country and I see my team march out. I hope that these players appreciate the great privilege it is to play for their state. The most intersting thing I heard was a comment from a ex-state player reflected on their time in the past at Nationals. 

"I came to National too and in true VIC metro style, won every game" - mmmmmm humility can be a great thing.

There is a lot of camaraderie in the NSW camp this year, defying all the things that I have heard about Metro and Country rivalry. It's actually really cool, and the way it should be.

We head out to catch some of the NSW Country men team. But as they were really giving their opposition a beating, we decided to head home for some showers and hot Milo. 

Note to self: Don't leave checking out the laundry till the night you actually need it. Managed to scrounge some $1 coins to make sure the uniforms were nice and clean and ready for tomorrow. 

Girls had milo, and I washed. After such a long day they were all pretty weary by now and were grateful when they were given the all clear to have an extra half an hours sleep in the morning.

Loving life.....loving the basketball......loving my team!

Day 2 - Photos, training, and making friends

Cold night last night. But I was very grateful for the electric blanket and air conditioning that got me through the night. We were lucky enough to get a bit of sleep in. Today I had to be up and at em myself as I had to run out to an embroidery shop.Due to a change to a member of our team due to injury, I had to find a way to get our player's name on the sweat towel. A simple thing.........had I remembered to do it 3 weeks ago when I found out, now I was asking someone to do it before 5pm. Let's just say that friendliness will get you a long way, and in this case got my towel done and dusted in 4 hours flat. The bonus of heading out early was that a coffee stop could be added to the journey.
The girls chilled out and then got beautified as we were headed out for team photos. We were met by the photographer (slightly earlier than our time slot), and he appeared to be a bit stressed. I did my usual 'how's your morning been?' chit chat, only to find out that he had a terribly busy morning due to not having access to the venue in time to set up ready for the first team's photos and had been run off his feet ever since. He hadn’t even had time for a coffee. So I thought that I had time and offered to grab him one. He was very grateful and his demeanor changed immediately. It feels great to make a difference in people’s day.

The photos are fun, the players get their individual pictures taken, then we line up for the team shot. Move this way, turn your shoulders, turn your feet, etc etc and finally CLICK! Can't wait to see it. Especially the crazy one. It's always fun to see what people do when put on the spot to be silly.

Id' visited the shops for some morning tea which we enjoyed out in the sunshine while we waited for our time slot for training.

I took the opportunity to make some new friends. Chatting with the canteen lady, the events coordinator and the court supervisors. All so helpful and friendly. Never underestimate the power of a smile. I must say that my parents have taught me interpersonal skills well. I do enjoy meeting new people and can strike up a conversation with pretty much anyone. I really dislike when people are unnecessarily rude or get riled up about small things (people cutting in line, dealing with people who don't know what they are talking about etc). Ok, life lesson over there.....I think you get the point. 

Training went well, and the girls are in the groove. I really think that I am the luckiest manager ever. I have the best team, the most cohesive coaches and  wonderful families of the players. Not to mention the brilliant support from home from my hubby and 2 girls of my own giving up time with me so I can do these things as well as my mum who has been an unending source of last minute items. 

So we head home for some lunch and the girls take the longer break to explore the accommodation we are staying at. The games room and jumping pillow were part of the activities, There is the entire WA contingency here at the same accommodation, but we are rarely corseting paths because of the great set up we have and which rooms we were allocated. 

While everyone was enjoying the facilities I popped out to stock up on some supplies and get the towel, and I was feeling relaxed. Not the strung out and already tired person I thought that I might be by nearly the end of day 2.

Just before we were headed out for the night we were visited by a representative from from BNSW. It's interesting to hear someone ask of the girls a whole lot of stuff that they are already doing. Respect, help your manager, be a team. It just made me prouder to be a part of this group that do all those things all day. Its refreshing to hear the recognition of the role of a manager too. I have been very lucky as our Head Coach and ACs are awesome like that, and always make sure that I feel valued as a very important part of this team, whilst I will never have any part to play in a game situation. There have been others that have spoken to our girls that didn't even say anything about the role of a manager or even acknowledged I was in the room. Glad I am not their manager :) 

Ballarat was hosting a round of SEABL so the girls got to check out a women's game which happened to closely coincide with the all important 'Technical' meeting. 

The technical meeting is where you hear from Basketball Australia, the organisers and the head of referees. Interesting what questions people ask and what they think is important to know. It is attended by the head coach and manager of each team. The best news is that we get to play in white tomorrow. When there is a clash of uniform colours, the team listed second has to change to their alternate strip. Love it. With VIC Country as our first game tomorrow it will be nice for the girls to take the court in their regular uniforms. Woohoo!

I head home early from the game to start dinner. Chicken Schnitzel and veges tonight! I once again am grateful that I brought my electric frypan. I feel like a kitchen MacGyver every time I make a meal, as I don't have the serving trays/bowls that I am used to having access to. While cooking dinner I tune into the live streaming of the ClubsNSW Academy Games as I had my own daughter playing back home in Terrigal. I love technology!

I gave dinner a 90% success purely because the potato bake I had cooking in the oven didn't work in time. Everyone raves about gas cooking, but it wasn't my friend today. Only took 2 hours to be at a point that was edible. Still remained calm and fortunately have a tendency to over cater, so there was still enough without the potato bake..

The girls didn't need any encouragement to go to bed after being told they will be up in the morning for a walk. A slow kitchen clean up before heading to bed to write. 

I was surprised to see so many read my blog yesterday, 118 people. Wow, reading about cooking and traveling is interesting to people.......who knew.

Tomorrow..................................GAME DAY!

Random Tip for the day: Always have zip locks. They are great for so many reasons.

Day 1 - Ballarat here we come

Day 1 of our journey, I may have been in this job before but with a new team and a new location, it’s like it’s all fresh again.

Fortunately we had a later flight so airport arrival time was 9.30am making my hatred for being up early a little less. We all gathered together alongside our NSW colleagues to the group check in. There are 4 teams from most states that come to Nationals. Women and men’s teams from both Metro and Country. So that makes 14-15 people per team. That’s a lot of baggage, but as different as our luggage was, we all looked the same lining up to check in proudly wearing our Basketball NSW gear. After a few pictures and last minute instructions to the girls about which gate to be at, and at what time, I was off and made a beeline for the coffee shop. Ok, I can take on the rest of the day now.

Shout out to Qantas who’s ability to manage groups is simply awesome. We had experienced their great service only a month ago when we decided to forgo a training camp to attend a preseason tournament in Dandenong. Their seamless processes made a check in a breeze. I once again brought along a bright coloured ribbon so all bags were easily identified. It is a tactic that I have employed each time I have travelled as a group and when you are at the baggage  carousel at the other end it allows any member of the group to easily identify a piece of luggage from their group. We were the first group at the arrivals with all our luggage off the carousel.

Being at the mercy of other’s travel bookings means that you cannot be in control of how things are. Just yesterday we had received notification that our cars and buses would not be available to us at the airport depot (despite there being a branch right outside the terminal). We had to leave the kids at the airport with the assistant coaches and be shuttled to a location 10 minutes away. We did discover that it would have been possible to have our vehicles brought over, we just had to have asked. Up in the memory bank to make calls as soon as the reservation numbers were known. Fortunately we weren't in a rush, like some of our colleagues who had training later that afternoon. An unnecessary inconvenience.

Once finally through that procedure we loaded up the girls, and our loads of luggage, for our journey from Melbourne airport. I was in charge of the bus with the girls and one of the Assistant Coaches (AC), and our coach and AC took the car. We all fit in without any fuss at all, and the trip to Ballarat was about an hour and half. Our girls had travelled from all over Country NSW to get to the airport. Some starting their journeys the day before, so once the hum and rock of the highways kicked in, they were off to sleep. It made for a quiet trip, until 20 mins from our destination one of the girls alerted me to a need for an emergency stop at the bathroom. Thank God for roadside bathrooms on highways.

I may have made a couple of wrong turns from Melbourne to Ballarat, despite bringing my much needed GPS along. I am geographically challenged to the extreme, so to anyone that knows me will not be surprised by this info. It was really only minor exit misses, and one where I was distracted by seeing the MARS factory.

We arrive at our accommodation and greeted by some very bubbly staff. I am not sure whether they had perhaps felt the need to overcompensate. Just a month earlier I had received a call to be advised that our accommodation booked 6 months ago had accidentally been cancelled. Our rooms had been booked out by others who could not have possibly paid the deposits as quickly as we did (within days of making enquiries). After some very assertive discussions our booking was reinstated, and rooms reallocated. But it was nice they were so very friendly.

I had arranged to have groceries delivered which saved me hours and also meant that the girls could eat almost straight away after travelling so long. While I was setting up for lunch the team settled into their rooms and checked out the lay of the land. But first stop was reception for wifi passwords. Of course.

Our set up is awesome. We have 5 rooms/cabins and we are mainly all in our own little cul-de-sac in the holiday park. The amenities are great, so it is easy to settle in. Less than half an hour after we finish some lunch the girls are already asking what time is dinner. I had made a schedule for each room so they know what’s happening each day and what the plans are for dinner.

Spaghetti Bolognaise tonight, and I am so very glad that I had packed some of my own kitchen creature comforts from home. My electric frypan, spatula, tongs, cling wrap and foil, a couple of my favourite knives and a chopping board. I am so glad that these were packed because I’ve already used all of them with the 2 meals that have already been provided. Having these things with me has made cooking preparation so much more like home, and less stress!

After dinner the girls settle in to watch a movie and the coaches start their individual chats with the team members. This gives the coaches the opportunity to talk about exceptions, and what sorts of things they can contribute to the team. This is a valuable time for lots of reasons.

Last year when traveling with the U16s State team, it was so valuable to have a supermarket nearby so we have done this again and it is less than 1km from where we are. So I took one of the ACs to the shops for some extra supplies not provided in the food delivery. As it is a Woolworths, it stays open to 10pm which is great for those last minute things needed for the following day.

Now all the girls are tucked up in bed and quite exhausted from their long day, as we all are. A big and exciting day tomorrow. No games, but team photos, Basketball Australia media and a training session.