Girona Cadira de Rodes Basketball starts the State League in Fontajau on Sunday, receiving the Miarco Petraher (12:30 p.m.). The team, which this year is led by Laia Planella (1995) wants to continue making steps forward in the Second Division after the good role last season, in which he was third of one final four that could have given rise to the elite. “Our focus is on the long term”, admits Planella, “the goal is not promotion, right now. We have a long way to go, in terms of experience and playing, to reach the level we aim for. We have to train and grow together. We want to create a structure and a foundation strong enough to, when the time comes, stand on our own. We are just in the middle of a period of evolution».
Planella, who is also in charge of the physical preparation, three years ago she was the second coach of Carlos Bermudez. This summer the roles have been exchanged and, in addition, the former coach is another player in the squad. “We have been together for a long time, a large group of people, and this is key to improvement. We are changing some things, and the fact that we know each other makes it easier, clearly». What are these changes? “The idea, especially. We are not going to play to play and win by strength or speed, we intend to be purposeful. We used to be a more defensive team, waiting for what others were doing. Now we try to force the opponent to attack us when and where we see fit. And in attack, we don’t want to live on individualities. We have to move the ball, create the shots. We are looking for our own style, along the lines of the club. In the ACB, Básquet Girona does not have a star who does everything. The effort is collective. Here, the same. Because basketball is a choral game”, he reasons. “There is also physical work beyond the track, in the gym. At first the player said ‘oysters, how lazy’, and didn’t understand why it was useful; but now he feels more comfortable and braver to face game actions and the final parts of the matches, where he sees that he is doing well».
????️ Interview with Lara Arenós, Girona Cadira Rodes Basketball player
???? The team debuts this Sunday in the State League in Fontajau (12:30 p.m.) pic.twitter.com/7v5utym5AC
— Basketball Girona (@BasquetGirona) November 16, 2023
‘The boss’ of the locker room
Planella, graduated in Sciences of Physical Activity and Sport and with one master in neurorehabilitation at the Guttmann, has directed his entire professional career towards adapted sport. The new role does not scare him. “But the first day I was scared shitless, huh”, she exclaims, between laughs. “I come from the world of football, too, and at first it was like ‘wait a minute, this is played with the hands’. The change has been very easy: the players already know me and trust me. They know we don’t do things because yes, everything has a reason. And when they view it, it confirms it for them. This allows them to believe in what I say and give it their all.” In the dressing room they already call her ‘the boss’.
When the spirit of overcoming becomes a life lesson
So far, Girona Cadira de Rodes Basketball has played two games in the Catalan League, losing both against Barça. “We made the click there. them and me They, because they saw that I would be the one in charge: holding the board, talking in the dressing room, in the timeouts. And me, because I let myself go and live the training and the matches. Experiences give you security and when I tell them ‘you have to do this’ and they do it, I check that they listen to me and obey me». Sensitivity is another aspect to highlight. “It appears more in the part of the weekday sessions than in the competition. We do a lot of injury prevention work, being careful that no two cases are the same and should be treated differently. We don’t all have the same needs. But the dressing room is just as competitive as any other. And the insecurities are the same. When the shots don’t go in, you doubt, but you have to keep insisting”, argues the coach.
“I encourage everyone to come to Fontajau. Wheelchair basketball is a very rewarding sport to watch. And entertaining, yes. In fact, the majority of people who come to the pavilion, repeat”, concludes Planella. If they repeat, it will be for something.
2023-11-18 05:30:12
#view #longterm
