Basketball has done a lot for me over the last couple of years, along with on the court improvements, I see my off the court attributes really come through.
As heartbroken as I was when I was cut from the U16 Irish Team, it could have been one of the best things that happened to me. It’s easy for some to accept it and just decide to play at club level or lose interest after putting time, work and effort in for so long. But all I remember was sitting with my sister, mam and dad before going to a Super League match and them saying “Prove them wrong, take some time and go for the next one”. So that’s what I did.
The next obstacle for me was having Puff Summers coaching at a camp and wanting to ask him if he could help me out, but 16 year old me was not able to go up to anybody and ask this, it was that bad my mam had to do it for me. After weeks and months of silent workouts as I was so shy, I could see an improvement. I wanted to put in the work constantly and consistently. From then on, I did every camp and every extra workout I possibly could. I went for the U18 team, and I made it. I had never been so happy to get to experience something like this as I had never made any team before this. Although it was a tough, it was an amazing experience and most definitely an eye opener to how much better I still needed to be. I continued to do all the camps I could possibly do. I decided that I’d go for the Irish Senior Women’s Team and see what the trial was like, expecting nothing and having nothing to lose but just to try it out. Even though I didn’t make it, it was great playing and competing with the best in the country and those who have played away or in Super League here.
Later that summer I did the Fr. Mathews camp as Puff was there. One evening he mentioned he was working out Grainne Dwyer and Edel Thornton and asked if I wanted to come along. A bit hesitant at first but I thought it would be great to get to do something like that. It was possibly one of my favourite workouts I have done. It was competitive and just three players trying to get better. After this, on the way home from camp I was on the bus when I got a call from the coach of the Senior Team, James Weldon, asking if I’d like to practice with them, and of course without any thought I said yes. We practiced for a couple of weeks in summer and being part of that felt great. Of course I was excited to get this experience and be coached by top level coaches also. In our last practice, one of the players couldn’t get released from her club to come and play in Norway and Estonia, so James had asked me if I’d be interested and I had never been so excited. Getting to go there and play against these teams was an amazing experience. Excited with nerves and with the fact I was there and getting to play; has to be a top memory in basketball for me to date.
Since then, being part of the extended squad and practicing has been an absolute pleasure.
The following year it was frustrating not being able to experience what the U20 Europeans would have been like due to COVID, but everyone was in the same boat! That just meant a lot more home workouts from the cul de sac on Zoom. Being with Templeogue and finally creating a Women’s senior team was a huge achievement from the club, especially as when I was U17, we were the oldest age group in the club, and to see where we are today is really something special.
Between mixing with a variety of players & coaches and with thanks to Westpark Fitness for their continued support, my independence and confidence is a million times better than when I was younger and I have basketball to thank for that.
A big thanks to Lynn for this piece. Lynn is currently playing National League with Griffith College Templeogue. You can find some of her workouts on her social media or @whynotme5
Find her on Instagram here:
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