GBL Jamboree

Kyra's feeling a little better. She wanted to play in today's Jamboree. (Again my camera disappointed me; the photo is during warm-ups before the games began.) We made a deal that I would talk to her coach beforehand and that she would pull herself out of the game if she started coughing hard or had lack of energy. She played well the first three mini-games of the Jamboree, but it took it's toll on the last game. She stayed out the last several minutes of the last game and motioned for me to come to the bench. I knew better. I stayed put on the bleachers and counted on her to hold her stance with her coach that she couldn't continue; there were only 3 minutes left in the game and I had to keep statistics. Our team lost all 4 games, but played better than at the scrimmage last week. After it was over, the coach gave a pep-talk to the girls. As all dispersed, he then spoke to Kyra alone (with me beside her). He told her that she's a leader. And that he needs her to play as much as possible. That she, Mikayla and Hannah are the strongest players and he needs them in the game. He's noticed that she complains of pain when the going gets tough. He needs her to get tougher. His talk was very motivational/encouraging, but Kyra doubted some of his statements. She was upset as we left. I let her calm down and then gently supported her coach's statements as we drove. She said she doesn't think of herself as a leader. And why does he expect so much more from her than he does of some of the other girls? Hmm.... because you have more talent/experience?.?.?. She doubted me too... But later that evening, I compiled the games statistics into a spreadsheet and the results showed she is truly a leader (in rebounds, points scored, attempted shots, etc.). So after I showed her the numbers, she realized we weren't just saying she's a leader for encouragement, but that it was actually true. Sometimes numbers speak louder than words...