The Girl Who Coaches Boys

That good friend I talked about in yesterday’s post agreed to answer some questions about her unconventional post as a boys basketball coach.

6ixth Man: How’d you get involved in basketball in the first place?

Coach Sandy: I got involved with basketball back at age 10. I started playing for our elementary school’s after school program. I had a great rec leader who put in time to teach us the game, Danny Escalera. I have not left basketball since that day. I was actually cut from our high basketball team my freshman year but was given a second chance by the coach while I sat watching my friends practice. I then made our JV basketball team and played one minute my freshman year. I know about second chances…lol!

6ixth Man: How long have you coached and how did you start?

Coach Sandy: I have been coaching for 13 years. I started by coaching both of my daughters’ city teams in Rancho Cucamonga. Our city has a large basketball program and the need for good coaches is great. I coached them every summer until they reached high school. I always made sure that I did not show favortism towards my daughters and most kids did not know that they were my daughters until the third week of practice.

6ixth Man: Have you always coached boys?

Coach Sandy: No. I started coaching boys during the winters when my daughters were not playing. My nephews took an interest in basketball and would only play if I accepted to coach their city team. From that point on, parents would seek me out to coach their sons city teams during winter seasons. I saw the differences between boys and girls concepts of the game and the difference in the quickness of the game.

6ixth Man:What was it like the first year you began coaching boys?

Coach Sandy: The first year I coached boys was tough. I was on the spot by the men to see if I really knew my game and I had to earn the respect of the boys in order for them to take me seriously. Some referees had a hard time adjusting to a female coaching boys therefore at times I felt that calls were a little lopsided. Once the boys saw beyond the female exterior and saw the love for the game I had, things changed. I earned their respect and also the men in the same arena. The males saw our ability to compete and win therefore they began to take us seriously.

6ixth Man:Do people in your family or otherwise think you’re crazy for coaching boys?

Coach Sandy: My girls love that I coach boys! My daughters have the same fire I do and are so supportive of me coaching boys. They would have it no other way. My immediate family, sisters and parents, were not too surprised that I coach boys but found it to be cool. I think they get a kick out of telling others that I coach boys and getting different reactions out of people.

6ixth Man: How does culture and your ethnic background factor in to your particular situation over at Sierra VistaHigh School in Baldwin Park?

Coach Sandy: Culture is big at Sierra Vista. We are a 89% Latino population at our school. The male Hispanic culture and dogma exist in our area. Fortunately for me, I understand the culture very well because I am first generation Nicaraguan-American and grew up in nearby El Monte. I come from the same background as my boys therefore I understand the challenges they face. I also am able to communicate with my parents in their native tongue which helps a great deal in gaining trust. Hispanic mothers are very protective of their sons.

6ixth Man: What are you hoping to accomplish this year with your team?

Coach Sandy: I have faced some challenges this year with losing some key players to varsity. With these challenges, I have also been able to find the diamonds in the rough. It would be nice to have a league championship but most importantly to be able to bring my players to play to their full potential and God given talents. I love to watch them improve and believe in themselves as the season progresses. This has always been my desire for every team I have coached.

6ixth Man: What are you hoping to achieve long term with the boys?

Coach Sandy: What I hope to achieve long term with the boys is life applicable lessons. I believe that what is expressed on the court is how you handle yourself in life. I want to give my boys the keys so that they become good men of character on the court and off the court. With those keys they can apply them to situations once they are out there in the big bad world. Life coping skills is my long term goal. I know that I would not be the teacher I am in my classroom if it were not for basketball and for coaching basketball.

6ixth Man:What’s the greatest challenge you’ve faced since becoming a boys coach?

Coach Sandy: There are several challenges I have faced since becoming a boys coach. Ridicule from opposing teams is hard and I know that it is hard for my boys so I give them a ton of credit for seeing beyond their ridicule and taking it to the boards where it counts. Earning the respect of the males in my arena has been hard but once they see the competitive level that my boys play on they take us seriously. I have had a father get in my face and go toe to toe with me in the past. But I believe one of the harder challenges I face is maintaining balance in my life. Going between my daughters’ sports schedules and coaching the boys at times spreads me very thin. I try and maintain my focus on keeping my “game face on” as my girls call it.

6ixth Man:How does your faith in Christ affect your coaching style?

Coach Sandy: I believe in redemption and second chances. I only know this from experience because of knowing Christ. He gives me different eyes to see and a love that is not from me that gives me the ability to see these boys as my own.

6ixth Man:If you could give some advice to women contemplating doing what you’re doing, how would you advise them?

Coach Sandy: I would say to any woman that is comtemplating coming into this arena, “You better have some thick skin baby, there’s no room for girly drama here!” ….lol! Make sure you know your game, believe in what you know, be confident, and there is no room for regrets. As one of my favorite coaches said, John Wooden, “you make coaching decisions on what you have experienced in the past. When things do not work out accordingly, don’t dwell on the past, move on, and no regrets”. I read to my boys from John Wooden’s book before games.

6ixth Man:Alright, last one. If the opportunity ever arose to coach varsity boys or even a men’s Junior College team, would you do it? Why or why not?

Coach Sandy: YES!!! I would love the opportunity to coach boys at the higher levels. I know that I am ready. I know that I still have lots to learn but I know that the need is out there for positive reinforcement coaches who teach self-discipline, good character, and competition. Coaching is helping the player to reach their potential and God given talent. I would welcome that opportunity in a heartbeat. And my girls would never let me pass up such an opportunity….”Go big or go home!”