University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Blog from Lindsey Thompson
09.19.2011 | Women's Basketball
Editor's Note: UNC Asheville senior guard Lindsey Thompson will be writing a blog throughout the 2011-12 academic year to give us a behind the scenes look of the Bulldog women's basketball team as they play their first season at Kimmel Arena.
Since I last wrote our team has went on a retreat to The Camp. We were there for a weekend and had a lot of fun! We stayed in a cottage, went to the pool, and did a lot of team activities. This was something new and different for our team! Each of us was able to learn about each other and from one another. We took a lot of pictures and developed many memories. We were divided into four teams throughout the weekend to cook meals with. Each team was able to cook a meal and also had to clean up after a meal. My group cooked chicken and shrimp kabobs and had a baked potato bar!! Fixing meals together allowed us to be in a different setting while still working together to get a job accomplished. This relates to the basketball court because we each have to contribute to be successful. Along with cooking, we did other activities that we can use what we learned and take it to the court.
We had four team building activities and each had a different spin on it. Our first team building activity involved crossing a river with seven steps to get across, but we weren't allowed to step in the river. Each of our players, 14 of us, had to be in the river on the seven steps before one of us could reach the other side. The main point to each team building activity was communication and developing a good strategy to make it work. We learned that each of us have a say and we all need to listen to each person's idea. Another thing we learned is that sometimes we are going to fail. Sometimes we are going to have the right game plan so we keep working at it until we succeed, but other times we have to change the plan mid-play. In either situation, the entire team has to be on the same page.
For teams to be successful, individuals need to step out of their comfort zone and understand that you're all in this together and you have the same goal and vision. I believe each member of my team came out of their comfort zone and grew as an individual this past weekend. After this weekend, we are even more excited to start the year!
