basketball season begins

Both kids are playing basketball again this winter, through the local YMCA, on teams with their school friends. It's been good so far - Liesl has been becoming more competent at dribbling and passing, has scored a couple of baskets, and has even attempted a few rebounds. She's on an all-girls team competing in a coed league, so they are definitely outmatched some weeks, but she and her team (the Purple Foxes!) are undeterred. After seeing how much joy they derived from fall soccer season's striped socks, I decided to spring for purple fox socks for the team. They match their purple tshirt and look amazing - it's so fun to see them all out there, trying their best and celebrating joyously whenever anyone scores.

Sebastian is on a slightly different version of the team he's played with the last two years - same coach and some of the same teammates, but also some new friends as others have decided to stop playing. They've played four games and although no official score is kept, the boys tend to know, and they're probably 2-2. Sebastian has good ball-handling skills and a decent shot, and on a good day he keeps his head up and does a great job of passing, driving to the net, managing the court. On a bad day he picks the ball up too early and gets trapped, and doesn't try to shoot many baskets. He's definitely improving as the season goes on, and we wish he'd practice even more on his own at the school courts. But it's not his favorite and he gets discouraged sometimes. We'll see if he continues beyond next year -- but for now, I like to watch the games.