Practice Makes Perfect!

This past summer, as I stumbled into our athletic center at 6:30 each morning, more days than not I was greeted by smiling, polite, although weary, young ladies as they arrived for their basketball workouts. Fast forward almost eight months later and this team of dedicated practicers has succeeded in making it to the GHSA Elite Eight Girls State Basketball Tournament (for the first time since the 1990s)! I’m not applauding only their accomplishment, but more importantly their diligence and yes, practice.

As I watched so many familiar faces sprint up and down the court this summer, I remembered them as little girls at the Lower School. Whether standing in front of the class to share their “show and tell” in Pre-K , or performing on stage for peers and family in our gym, or individually reciting their autobiographies in 2nd grade to other classes, all of these experiences had to impact and feed that confidence they showed on the court. They didn’t realize it then, but their practice to become self-assured and committed athletes started long ago.

As I huffed and puffed my way around the indoor track on those early mornings, I was always inspired to go “one more lap” by these tireless, determined young women. Seeing those ponytails swish back and forth, I often would think back to their days in the Lower School gym when they were just beginning to learn the basics of the sport. Coach Dulaney’s patient direction with them, as she taught skills in passing and dribbling when their chubby hands seemed dwarfed by the ball, began their practice of playing, not only the right way, but in the right way. Every day, they would see a quote or thought about teamwork, inclusion or sportsmanship on that huge white board in the gym and then she practiced what it meant and made sure they did, too. They played as the 1st grade team!

Seeing these players’ eyes locked onto Coach Hembree's this summer as he explained the drill reminded me of how those innocent smaller eyes once looked up into their teachers’ as they taught them how to carry a number in addition or explained the difference between cumulus and cirrus clouds in the first grade. Their concentration and respect began as children as they practiced the Darlington mission of learning with passion, acting with integrity and serving with respect. Many of this team’s players were the recipients of the guidance of our Lower School faculty who took the time to teach with enthusiasm and discipline with love. They learned to listen—a practice that will serve them well past the playoffs.

These young ladies are winning examples of this age-old directive. Each one has practiced every step of the way to become perfectly engaged, confident and a team player. Congratulations to this team of perfect inspiration—I have loved watching as they’ve grown into phenomenal young ladies. Practice really does begin early (ask them!), but ends with perfection—on and off the court!