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 THE SPORTS DIVA SPEAKS! Ask our resident Sports Diva anything about the world of play and she'll give you an answer. Her royal sassiness simply can not be stumped ... C'mon, we dare ya! Q1: Sports Diva, I need some advice. Coming up soon is a big tryout for the AAU basketball league, this really good travel team I want to be on in the spring. I’m a good player, and I know some of the girls who play already and I think I’m definitely good enough to play with them, BUT every time I have to do a tryout, I get so nervous and I feel like I mess up every time a coach is watching, and when I do something good they never see it. Basically I just want to know how to make sure they see my true ability. Help! - Logan Q2: For the past two years I have been interested in dance...hip hop to be exact, and recently I decided that I wanted to have a career in dancing instruction or something to that effect. I have also been taking lessons (jazz) and I am going to start taking ballet. The only reason I am not taking hip hop is because everywhere we have tried is way way way too expensive. We don’t have a lot of money and we can’t afford that, so if I want to make hip hop a career how do I do that when I’m taking jazz and ballet? Please help me! - Gabie Q3: My school gym class is pretty wild. There are 24 guys and 6 girls. I like playing sports and I have fun doing so, but if I make a mistake they make fun of me. I am afraid to do anything in class because I am afraid of getting yelled at. I wish I could participate as much as I want to. What should I do? - Jennah Q4: Can you please tell me about the physics in volleyball? -Lauren Q5: On my indoor soccer team this girl’s father is always there and showing off his daughter and telling me how much faster she can run and how much better of a keeper she is. It’s really getting on my nerves. - Autumn Q1: Sports Diva, I need some advice. Coming up soon is a big tryout for the AAU basketball league, this really good travel team I want to be on in the spring. I’m a good player, and I know some of the girls who play already and I think I’m definitely good enough to play with them, BUT every time I have to do a tryout, I get so nervous and I feel like I mess up every time a coach is watching, and when I do something good they never see it. Basically I just want to know how to make sure they see my true ability. Help! - Logan A: Logan girl, I know what you mean. The whole deal with tryouts is a lil’ crazy – a one-shot deal to show your stuff, then SNAP, you’re in or you’re out. No use trippin’ over the technique though. They’ve got to shake down a roster somehow, and as long as there are sports, there are going to be tryouts. That said, here’s how you make the best of a tough tryout: Get prepped ahead of time. Having your kicks packed, gear in order, a good meal and plenty of rest the day before will mean that much less to stress on when it’s GO time. Next, get your head in the right place. Think of this as a platinum opportunity to show your skillz, not a test to see if you can creep in under the cut. Take it from the Diva, the biggest thing to bring besides your game is confidence. You know you can run with these girls, so just go in and do your thing. Whether you’ve got the hot hand or can’t buy a bucket on the big day, have faith in your fundamentals. Coaches know ’em when they see ’em. Tune out the clipboards and cut lists, and focus on what you do best – ballin’. Bring it, ~The Sports Diva Q2: For the past two years I have been interested in dance...hip hop to be exact, and recently I decided that I wanted to have a career in dancing instruction or something to that effect. I have also been taking lessons (jazz) and I am going to start taking ballet. The only reason I am not taking hip hop is because everywhere we have tried is way way way too expensive. We don’t have a lot of money and we can’t afford that, so if I want to make hip hop a career how do I do that when I’m taking jazz and ballet? Please help me! - Gabie A: Whatup Gabie my girl! First of all - props for your dance drive and determination. That's half the battle right there! Hip hop is a bangin' industry right now, so you're headed into something hot. Now don't sweat the fact that you and your fam don't want to throw dough at pricey classes - you don't need to make bank to become a hip hop success story. I'll break it down for you - most hip hop dancers get their start taking jazz and ballet just like you, and often stay with it! How do you think they learn to use those hips and do those hops? Those girls you see tearing it up at halftime of Laker games are still steppin' it to jazz and classical out of the spotlight - the good ones at least. Ballet and jazz give your bod the balance and strength that'll put you ahead of the next girl - the same fundamentals used in ballet turns and leaps are totally incorporated into the best hip hop choreography. Stick with classes you can, and make sure to join any local/school dance teams or cheer squads - that's the best way to start hotsteppin' it. On your own time, groove on the moves you've seen and work on choreographing some of your own. If you're truly jones'n for a hip hop future, you can make it happen. Keep moving, ~The Sports Diva Q3: My school gym class is pretty wild. There are 24 guys and 6 girls. I like playing sports and I have fun doing so, but if I make a mistake they make fun of me. I am afraid to do anything in class because I am afraid of getting yelled at. I wish I could participate as much as I want to. What should I do? - Jennah A: Hey Jennah, what up girl? Sounds like you're dealing with quite a boy-heavy ratio in your gym class, but try to ignore the numbers. I totally feel ya on the fear of making a mistake - nobody's tryin' to get teased or taunted for going full-tilt in phys ed! It sounds strange, but the answer to your troubles in this case is to ignore them. Girl, you've got to change your attitude from hold-back hindered to no-fear focused! A major factor of performance no doubt is confidence, so the more you can tune-out your fears, the better you'll do. The most important thing to realize is that EVERYONE makes mistakes, and the kids makin' fun are doing it to get in your head, 'cause they're afraid to be the ones messing up. If you can show that you're not fazed by their act, and that you're just going to play hard, mistakes and all, they'll realize it's pointless and move on. Chances are they'll respect your true athlete attitude. Play on girl! ~The Sports Diva Q4: Can you please tell me about the physics in volleyball? -Lauren A: Hey Lauren, let me give you the skinny on vball physics. The physics involved in volleyball are endless, but I'll break it down for you best I can. When passing the ball, let your leverage come from your legs, and don't even think about swingin' those arms. Make a mean platform with your forearms, and keep your shoulders square to your target. The only real movement should come from the bend in your knees and most importantly - moving your feet FIRST to get under the ball. When hitting/spiking the ball, the biggest physics factor is momentum. It's straight-up hard to be moving with all your might toward the net and then jump, swing and land without touching it! Start back at the attack line (also called the 10-foot line), and make the first step of your approach the big one to get you to the ball, then hop into your crouch with both feet, ready to spring UP instead of forward. This should help you smack a nasty spike without getting tangled up in the net. Another physics factor in hitting is the sweet SNAP of the wrist. Hit that ball like you mean it girl, and snap with all the sass you've got! If this isn't enough to satisfy your vball appetite, hit me back and I'll fill you in further. In the meantime, you've GOT to check out the volleyball video in the GYM of GoGirl World starring gold medalist Kerri Walsh. You'll find it under SportsReels. Peace and play on, ~The Sports Diva Q5: On my indoor soccer team this girl’s father is always there and showing off his daughter and telling me how much faster she can run and how much better of a keeper she is. It’s really getting on my nerves. - Autumn A: What’s up, Autumn? Dealing with over-competitive ‘rents can be a real drag. These hardcore parents can even get into it more than their children. They have this weird ability to bring your game down just by standing on the sidelines. But that yappy father you mentioned in your question is probably insulting your game to make himself and his daughter feel better about hers. Sounds strange, but do you know what I mean? Maybe his daughter isn’t the soccer star he thinks she is. Maybe he feels threatened by a kick-butt lil’ diva like yourself. I know it's hard, but try to take it as a compliment. All you can do is keep it up and show him those soccer skillz. You know how truly awesome you really are, and that’s all that matters, Autumn. Give 110 percent all the time, play to the best of your ability and rise above the sideline loudmouths. Keep kickin’ it. ~ The Sports Diva The Diva will answer your question within one week and will respond directly to your e-mail address. This response will be from the email adddress "GoGirlWorld@WomensSportsFoundation.org". Selected questions and answers may be chosen for publication in THE SPORTS DIVA SPEAKS! (Note: The Sports Diva is not a doctor, a psychologist, a professional athlete or a professional anything for that matter. She is simply a diva, who has spent her whole life playing every sport under the sun. Take these suggestions as friendly advice, not expert opinion and do not blame the well-meaning Sports Diva if, for some outlandish reason, these suggestions end up in disaster. Thank you. Yours in sports sassiness, The One and Only Sports Diva) | |
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