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New Section
Thought about starting a new section and decided that my season review would be a good starting point!
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Season 06-07
The season keeps getting longer and longer, it's now mid-July and I finally think the season is done but I'm now writing up last year's season and planning next years!!!
This is my 10th successive year with GUWBC and I have to say possibly one of the most enjoyable, rewarding and getting up there as one of the most successful in terms of coaching! Not really going to review any sort of social events etc - there are other sections on the website for that!
It seems that every year in university basketball is regarded as a transition year and that's just the way it goes but this year I was expecting a dip in performance due to the loss of key players and some other factors but that was certainly not the case!
A new influx of players and a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment from the team saw some great results over the year! Training started late in September and unfortunate timing saw me take a 2 week break from coaching. Great excuse though as I made a trip to North Carolina to observe some different coaches and teams in action to develop my coaching (as well as a few glasses of wine and some shopping!). Few shaky results whilst I was away but this was definitely not the way things were going to work throughout the season.
The 1st team were under pressure after an early loss to Dundee but finished their campaign finishing 3rd in the 1st division, losing out to Strathclyde in points difference. A great team effort in getting to that stage! A fantastic performance against Chester in the BUSA Trophy, all players adapting well and stepping up for the occasion. A long road trip to Leeds was not as successful but a season to be proud of there! Another shot at some silverware came along in the Scottish University Cup, a tough draw saw us lose out to the eventual winners, Strathclyde, meant we had a chance of winning the Plate. After wins against Caledonian and a forfeit from someone else we ended up in the final against St. Andrew's, a team we had beaten earlier in the season. The final was a little disastrous and definitely did not go our way but gave everyone experience of playing in a final, which will hopefully be beneficial in years to come!
The 2nd had a real mix of established GUWBC players and newcomers but didn't have much positional balance. The team did a fantastic job and really developed well over the season, a lot of hard work and commitment from all players, training attendance was excellent – especially since games were a little sparse! A few friendly games at the end of the season were enjoyed by all those that played and it’s definitely something that will become a regular part of the GUWBC calendar!
The Strathclyde League saw us play each team 3 times, making this season the longest I can remember but also the most challenging as every game result meant something! Early losses to Glasgow Storm and Kyle Cougars put a little doubt in our campaign as did a 4 point loss to Glasgow d2 in the same week we defeated top of the table contenders Glasgow Storm. The tremendous amount of work, commitment and belief that we could still come out top was fantastic! In the closing weeks of the season we managed to defeat Kyle Cougars and Glasgow d2 in hard fought games and with Glasgow Storm losing narrowly to d2 in the last week of games we came out winners of the Strathclyde League for the first time in our history! The Cup went to Storm after a hard fought final!
Congratulations to all those who added another element to their basketball by going on the Level 1 Floor Officials Course, we will continue to develop your skills as a player but also as a referee!
This year’s tournament was one of the hardest to organise with a number of challenges along the way but possibly one that I had the most fun at! Dates are in the diary again for next year and the countdown begins!
Thanks to all those who made this season a memorable one: players; referees; sponsors and of course our opponents!
I am currently working on some sponsorship for next year to compliment the sponsors we already have –so watch this space!
Season 06-07
Scottish 1A Division – 3rd
Scottish 2A Division – 4th
SLBA SW – 1st
SUS Plate – Runners Up
SLBA Cup – Runners Up
As always I would welcome your feedback!
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At present we have entered the following competitions:
Scottish Universities 1A
Scottish Universities 2A
Strathclyde League
Strathclyde Cup
Chairman's Cup (Scottish Cup for non National Teams)
We will also enter any Scottish Universities Cup, should they continue with the programme!
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The Future
The season 2007-08 could very much be my last year with GUWBC. After next year's tournament (June 08) I plan to travel and work in Australia for a year. There are possibilities that I will organise the tournament with the assistance of club members whilst I am away and come back for it in June 2009!
I think I have reached saturation within basketball in Scotland (far too many commitments), I will have finished (fingers crossed) my Masters and don't really have any qualms about leaving my job so it's time for a break from it all and take a year out! Means I will pretty much be scrimping and saving before I head off - so no huge rounds of drinks in Curlers next year haha!
This means that I will resign as coach of GUWBC for the season 2008-09 but depending on circumstances would be happy to come back and coach from the start of the 2009-10 season but I guess that all depends on what coaching we (you?) put in place for the year that I am away!
This year I will make sure that committee (and club) members are completely up to speed with the runnings of the club. I realise that this will not affect all of you as some of you will be or will have graduated.
If anyone has any thoughts then please just drop me an e-mail.
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Glasgow University Women's Basketball
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