For the Love of the Game

 T here are a hundred stories I could tell about these two Ballers in their first year of playing Basketball. - how Kirra dresses herself and turns up in party dresses to the Bullets Basketball Clinics and being one of only seven girls among 50+ kids. - how Kaiya recently pivoted, bounced the ball and took a shot in a game and for a moment looked like a real Basketballer. - the friendships, oh so many beautiful friendships, but also challenging moments of learning how to be a part of a team. - the massive celebrations we do for the kids and their first ever baskets, Kaiya and Kirra have not yet reached that milestone in a game. - the number of bribes and 'prize box' negotiations we have had to keep them turning up each week. - the glimmer of hope we get in some moments they get enough confidence and success, that they actually enjoy hitting the court. - the loud dance music we play while shooting hoops in the warmup time before training starts. - the number of times we have ...

On 25 March At basketball training I said hello Alex (7 years old), how are you? He replied "I'm surpassing my potential!. Then he showed me his move, dribbled the ball between his legs (with some fumbles), twisted around and took a jump shot.  This is why we do it.  These kids are pure awesomeness.

...... Flashback from 28 January 2021 Facebook / Instagram Post from 28 January 2021 This could be the start of something new..... first Basketball training today. It's been 5 years since coaching for Michael. It was good fun. Fast forward to 27 December 2021........... Looking back. Ooohhhh the emotion! It was super charged energy in the car, as we drove to Basketball training for the first time. I posted on social media because I didn’t want to forget the moment (and the date) but it’s taken a whole year and a couple of Basketball seasons for me to be ready to write the Basketball stories.   I remember Kaiya breaking down in the car from the pressure, even thought we were holding back as much as we could, she still sensed it. Michael remembers Kaiya freaking out and being in shock that Daddy might beat her in this. I also think it was a bit of pressure that she sensed where she wanted to be really good at this thing her Daddy loved so much. Kirra sensed it too. There were lots of...

This was a Facebook Flashback.... back when it was really too early to introduce them to Basketball. We, as parents, were waiting patiently. We won't know for a few years if the girls really like the game enough to stick to it, until then, we will have HOOP DREAMS.  Kirra Isla Kubbi was testing out the basketball skills and her throw in the sport store today at Rebel Sport in Carindale. This is the look on her face after throwing the ball. We brought home two pink basketballs today in the hope to develop some skills. Kaiya Kelly Puggle at the age of 5, just had her first school sports day this week and she didn't get a ribbon in her first ever race. Life isn't always easy and it's time for our beautiful girls to learn some of the lessons of champions, mighty ones, and human Gods and Goddesses. It's time for the basketball ball psychology to begin. The first time Kaiya tried basketball at after school care she got hit with a misfired ball (in the face and she cried),...

This is Kaiya Kelly on the move at the end of year Basketball Break-up for the Sunnybank Hurricanes Basketball Club on 06 December 2014. At about this time Michael needed to hang up the whistle and stop being a Coach for a while, to be a Daddy. Knowing that at some point, he would come back (but mostly if the girls were interested). Basketball is something that people think force on our kids, but the truth of the matter is, that it won't matter if they do Basketball or not.  The truth of it is, this has never been about getting to the NBA and making a Champion.  It never will be.  This is about the fundamentals.  This is about learning how to be a part of a team. This will help in work, family, life, and in being a citizen of the world.  This is about friendship. The friendship, the heartbreak, the elation, and the love that stays with us and changes us forever through the people that we play with.   This is about fun. It about being so fun that when t...