Traumatizing Practices...heh
Well, I’ve had some quite eventful v-ball practices lately. On Monday, everything was going fine until we started serving. When we serve, we all serve from one side or the other, so you have to watch out for incoming balls. So anyway, I got a ball and started to turn around to go back to the line to serve. As I did, a ball came and hit me in the eye. I didn’t have time to blink or duck b/c I didn’t even see it coming. I tell you what, that hurt like hell b/c it hit my eye… not my eyelid. So, there I stood turned around, holding my eye. Amanda was really nice to me and she got her towel and started wiping away my make-up. Apparently it started to run down my face. Another teammate got me a cold water bottle to put on it. I let go of my eye and I tried to blink a few times but I really couldn’t see that well. My eye was burning quite profoundly and my vision was blurred. Coach Weires came over and asked if I was all right and if I had contacts in. Luckily I didn’t at the time. Then he patted my back and said that we would probably be serving only on one side. So practice continued and my eye still hurt and was blurry. I got a very good night sleep and my eye was a lot better in the morning. Just a little sore. So yesterday, (Tuesday) we were supposed to have our first actual game with Shelby Co. They called and said they had a conflict with their gym and wanted to know if they could use ours. We too had a conflict with it so the game was canceled. We instead had practice in the gym. When I got there, the gym smelled very strongly of paint… and when I looked over, I saw that they had painted the other side of it. Our gym now has about 8 different shades of blue in it. It’s also at least 95 degrees in there. We all sit down on the bleachers because Coach Marcum told us not to put up the nets yet. Usually when he says that, it means running. Coach Weires arrived and walked over and said, “So how’s your face?” and did a little gesture with his hand while smiling. I smiled and said it was a lot better. When everyone arrived (except for the two on vacation) he called us over into a huddle. And that’s when all the fun began. He started out by getting and e-mail he had received from one of the parents. She had gotten us our team t-shirts and apparently heard that some of the girls were unhappy with them. So in the e-mail she apologized for it. Coach said, “I’m very disappointed with you all b/c a parent who is volunteering to help the team shouldn’t have to apologize to us. Everyone on the line now!” Right now I’m thinking “oh shit” b/c “on the line” means do suicides. This is how it works. You start on the volleyball end line, run to the 10m line then back to the start, run to the other 10m line, back to the start, to the opposite end line, back to the start, to the opposite wall, and back. That is one suicide… understand the name now. And remember, it smells of paint fumes, it’s at least 95 degrees in there, and I found out I didn’t drink enough water throughout the day. So we got on the end line and Coach said, “Ok, whoever comes in last will have a surprise waiting for them”, which means you get to do another one. Finally he said “go” and we went. I came in 3rd so I was happy. He didn’t make anyone run another one and called us all back into a huddle. “Now, how many times did I tell you all that I wanted all the packets completely filled out and the $20 by last Wednesday? Ok, and who didn’t turn in something? Be honest.” Someone raised their hand and fessed up. “Ok, everyone on the line!” Again *oh shit*. We proceeded to the line and did another suicide. Once again he called us to a huddle. Now, I was also very disappointed in you all last night when the guy came with the jerseys. There was way to much complaining from you all.” There was quite a bit of complaining b/c the jerseys were smaller than everyone thought. Luckily mine fit fine! I really like how they turned out. But anyway, “On the line”. Now these are all happening within about 2 minutes of each other. Not enough time to recover from the last one. So we are all out of breath, and now on the line. We started and about halfway through, Nikki and I had a collision. She fell down but everyone kept going. I stopped and helped her up but by then everyone was ahead of us. We kept going and came in last. I thought Coach was going to make us run another one but he said “I like what I see NASA.” Ok, by now our legs feel like jelly/lead and we can hardly breathe. I’m feeling like I’m about to pass out so I bend over and put my head down. See, here’s where the not drinking enough water throughout the day comes in. I finally sit down and then my legs go numb. So now I’m freaking out b/c I can’t feel my legs, I can’t breathe, and I’m about to pass out. Coach is talking about disrespecting the coaches and how whenever they try to give tips, some of the girls roll their eyes, say “but…” or ignore them, etc. I don’t really remember much of his whole speech b/c I felt like shit. I was seriously about to tell him when he made us run again that I couldn’t. But I figured he’d make me or everyone run more, so I just sucked it up and tried my best. After his speech he said those faithful words, “on the line”. We did yet another suicide. I’m noticing that everyone is slowing down and having a hard time with it. So that make me feel better b/c I thought it was just me. When we finished, before we could get back to the huddle he said, “And that one bothers me the most, so on the line again!” Now I’m really about to faint, I can’t pick up my legs when I’m running, I can hardly see right, and I can’t breathe. A little tip to anyone reading this… When you are running, DON’T HAVE GUM IN YOUR MOUTH! It makes your saliva really thick and you can’t swallow and it sucks. So anyway, we did another one and he called us back to the huddle. Right now, I’m just wondering how many more we’ll have to do. Again I kneel and put my head down. Coach talked about how we haven’t been doing enough of this type of stuff and need to do more. Also, how he doesn’t like to see us in pain or sick (b/c Kara went to bathroom and said she threw up) but he wants to get a point across. I do believe he succeeded! He told us to get a drink and then walk a lap. Coach Michelle was trying to help us breathe well and one girl had to go to the health room for the rest of practice. We all started putting up the equipment and I guess Coach Weires saw me in the huddle with my head down. He asked, “Nasa, are you alright?” I told I felt a little dizzy and he replied, “You need to make sure you’re drinking enough water during the day!” I nodded my head and continued to help put up the net. The rest of practice was pretty normal. For the last 20 minutes we played the modified lacrosse game, again JV vs. Varsity. CJ and Coach Weires were on JV and Cam was on Varsity. The JV won again 2-1. So that ended the practice. Our “first game” will be next Tuesday against J-town I think. It will be a home game. I won’t be going to practice tonight b/c we have tickets to see “Jesus Christ Superstar” with a bunch of friends from my mom’s work. That should be fun. I will miss practice though! So, that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it! hehe