Basketball Season - Winter 2012

Another successful basketball season is about wrapped up!

Claire towered above her teammates in the 3-4 year old group and really learned some skills this year! I scoffed at the idea of weekly practices for her age group, but that was where they really had a chance to shoot! Claire would shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot and she made baskets all of the time! The first time I took her to practice (when Mick was out of town) she wore what she had been playing in that day....a tutu...and I sat in awe, watching my prissy girly girl shoot and score time after time!

The games were hilarious and tiring for the little ones. They would run to the end of the court (one kid carrying the ball, no dribbling involved) and all the kids who didn't have the ball would congregate under the basket with their hands up. I mean, right under the basket. It was adorable! Then the kid would shoot, the coaches would hand it to a kid on the other team and down the court they would go. They probably ran up and down the court 40 times a game! 

When it was Claire's turn, she would run down with the ball, but before she shot, she would dribble a few times. Such a natural!

This was truly the best shot. It was a like herding cats and then making the cats smile. Mick asked, "Is this their silly picture?" ;-)

Love her piggies!

And such a pose! Love the feet, the self confidence, the adorableness of it all! This is actually why I put her in basketball....for the pictures! :)

Mick coached Olivia's team for the second year in a row! The Mavericks improved so much throughout the season! Mick has a system where he numbers the kids at the beginning of the game (1-13) and he sends in 5 players by their numbers, every two minutes. 1-5, then 6-10, then 11,12,13,1,2...You get the idea. I think it's pure genius and such a fair way to make sure all the kids not only get equal playing time, but they're not always playing with the same kids. He also makes sure to split up the best players, although there were quite a few good players this year, so that the groups of five will be about on the same level, no matter what. Such a great Daddy and coach!!!!!!

Olivia scored her first basket in a game this season and I think she floated home from the gym while Mick drove beside her! :) The boys don't always pass to the girls, but this one game, she got the ball and Mick shouted, "OLIVIA! SHOOT!" and it went in! She turned around to Mick and said his expression on his face was sooooooooooooooooooo happy!!!!!!!!

Olivia is a great defensive player and is always running around the lane with her hands up! Go Olivia!

Mick and his assistant coach, Jay, dressed up in suits for this last Thursday's game! :)

We're so lucky to get such professional pictures for our sports by the amazing Danielle Caceres!

Mick got to pick the uniform color and he picked blue because he thought that would go with the most shoes. Is he a great girl Daddy or what?????

Love this one! Such a sassy look on Olivia and such a proud look from Daddy!

Thank you Mick for coaching our girls when they play sports!

Great job Claire and Olivia!