Our players were impressed after watching the Ice play a game yesterday.  I overhead Miranda (#5) tell a teammate it would be cool to get a picture with the players in case any Ice players make the Olympic team, they have a pic with them.  So I caught Tina between games and asked if we could get a pic.  Our girls couldn't get to your gym fast enough when told what was arranged.  Of course, Miranda (#5) insisted on standing by the tallest player.

 

 The Ice players graciously obligied with a pic and our players proceeded to have it on their Facebook pages by the time they got to the other side of the gym.   I must thank the Ice Players for taking time for pictures and for Players #5 & #14 for speaking with Claire (#1).  She has always been tall for her age and we've had a hard time getting her to understand she needs to learn to jump on her attacks and blocks. When we try to explain why to her, Claire's response is similiar to "but I don't have to, I can just reach over the net", so to have a player taller than her and not her coach or parent, tell her I'm hoping it will sink in.  Those 2 taking the time to say a few words that Claire was able to realize she is not the only girl who grew up fast at a young age.  Claire was able to watch them play and see how hard they played.  At our last match of the day, Claire seemed to have a better timing and was more agressive. I can only hope it was due to the Ice players.

 

 We tried our best to use the Ice as a learning experience.  We compared how quiet our gym was vs the Pro's gym and it was due to the players talking, not coaches yelling instructions. Of course the 13's then wanted music piped into our gym as that would make all the difference.  Our players did see why we explain you have to move, talk, pass correctly, practice, hustle.  At least for yesterday, wanted to play like the Ice.