Last practice
Feb. 8th, 2005 10:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wildravenAfter getting destroyed in a game Saturday where varsity had taken 5 of my best for their game (since they were going to destroy their opponent) and I was missing a few more due to illness, (God, it seems like half of my team is sick.) we have moved on.
Tonight was our last practice of the year. We still have 5 games left over the next two weeks, but this is the last practice.
They've come a long way. Some have come a *really* long way. But part of me feels like they're not done yet. They are still "cookie-dough." There is so much more I can still teach them. So much more we could work on and improve.
But I also know we've come a long long way. I took a step back at one point and watched as line after line raced for the blue line and spun backwards. Every single person, some of whom could not stop or skate backwards at the start of the year, did a 180 at full speed, skated backwards, then spun back around to finish out the drill. I watched us skate the circles and look like a faceless machine, group after group, leaning in close to the ice, snaking their way up the ice. We did breakouts and weaves. We did one-on-one corner battles and 3-on-1 drills. I watched defensemen who had never played D before this year race, spin, and "look good" as they forced forward line after forward line to the outside.
I can't believe that's it.
No more practices.
Just a handful of games. In two weeks, it'll be completely over.
I'll miss it. They were singing and pretending to cry after the practice, proclaiming/lamenting it as our last practice. They'll miss it too.
Games are fun.
But I have to be honest. In some ways, games are a test. A cookie given to one who works hard. The practices are where most of the true learning goes on. That's where most of the true fun goes on.
Next week is our last bus trip. They'll REALLY miss those.
I feel good and sad at the same time.
Looking forward to our game on Friday.
Tonight was our last practice of the year. We still have 5 games left over the next two weeks, but this is the last practice.
They've come a long way. Some have come a *really* long way. But part of me feels like they're not done yet. They are still "cookie-dough." There is so much more I can still teach them. So much more we could work on and improve.
But I also know we've come a long long way. I took a step back at one point and watched as line after line raced for the blue line and spun backwards. Every single person, some of whom could not stop or skate backwards at the start of the year, did a 180 at full speed, skated backwards, then spun back around to finish out the drill. I watched us skate the circles and look like a faceless machine, group after group, leaning in close to the ice, snaking their way up the ice. We did breakouts and weaves. We did one-on-one corner battles and 3-on-1 drills. I watched defensemen who had never played D before this year race, spin, and "look good" as they forced forward line after forward line to the outside.
I can't believe that's it.
No more practices.
Just a handful of games. In two weeks, it'll be completely over.
I'll miss it. They were singing and pretending to cry after the practice, proclaiming/lamenting it as our last practice. They'll miss it too.
Games are fun.
But I have to be honest. In some ways, games are a test. A cookie given to one who works hard. The practices are where most of the true learning goes on. That's where most of the true fun goes on.
Next week is our last bus trip. They'll REALLY miss those.
I feel good and sad at the same time.
Looking forward to our game on Friday.
