Camp Week

Camp is something else!  We have an outstanding staff this year and with all the kids we have, ages 7-12, the days are flying by.  We have lots of enthusiasm.  This group listens very well and tries to do exactly what we just taught, said, recommended, etc.  It is quite amazing and very uplifting to see them pay attention as much as they do.  It is even more satisfying to see the improvement each camper has made in just a short time.  Hopefully more gratification will come to each of them if they continue to work on their skills and not just expect to be a good basketball player in a week. It does take a lot of hard work, extra work and quite a commitment to do your best and become the player you want to be.  I am pleased that they chose R-MC Girls' Basketball Camps to begin their journey.  Today was Wacky Wednesday.  Our campers and staff fit the bill quite well.

Upon Return

It seems I had good intentions to write while in Ireland and I apologize it didn't happen.  I had a fabulous time and I believe the team I coached did as well.  They have talked about a reunion site in another year and graciously asked if I would be their coach.  Now it will be up to USA Athletes to find us a destination or determine if it is a go.  I obviously made it home safely.  Upon return we jumped right into a weekend of Macon Hoops with The Battle at the Brock.  It was a fundraiser for our team.  Hopefully when all the bills are paid, we will have something to show for all the hard work of the players and their parents.  Thanks very much for the great help we had from a few parents and all of our players.  From Macon Hoops we went right into our Day Camp.  More to follow on that in another post.

Back to My Roots

I knew I was from Ireland as my great-great-great grandfather was an Irish sea captain according to our family genealogy. He came from Ireland and settled on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. Since I have the opportunity to be in Ireland coaching a team for USA Athletes, I have begun to understand some of the things my grandparents and my mother would refer to in our family discussions or get togethers. I have seen the name Carroll several different places while traveling about through Ireland--Dublin, Cork, Limerick and all the other little places here and there. The tour is called the Irish Roots Tour. Now I think that is pretty clever as many of us could probably trace our roots back to Ireland. The team I am coaching has some of the nicest young women on it. There are seven players: 1 -grad student from the University of Mobile-she also played at Ole Miss; 1-from Columbia College in South Carolina; 2-from Clark University; 1- from Rowan University; and 1-from Montclair University; and 1-from Hollins University. This is one of the best trips I have been on in terms of the locale, the culture, the hospitality, the players and their personalities, the food, the people we meet and come into contact with, and the experience. Even our basketball has been fun and exciting. They play a very aggressive and physical game over here. Our team had to adjust some, but the officiating was fairly consistent. At any rate, I'll write more during another chance with free wi-fi.