...sounds like a great title for my Honours thesis. Were it not for the fact that I'm, y'know, doing it in Linguistics.
By all accounts, Team USA could lead themselves around on the floor. They brim with such competitive confidence you wouldn't think they needed coaches shepherding them. They have an apt and admirable captain in senior Alicia Sacramone (who I believe actually acted as captain in Stuttgart last year). She gave her teammates a 'pep talk' to boost morale during the rotations and helped lead them to a team gold. She's a fantastic young lady with sass to boot. The team gelled magnificently. Team USA's huddles during competition (often done without the coaches) are always tight bundles of encouragement and solidarity. NCAA meets go one better, with big hands-in huddles, fist pumps and chants. Go team go!
Team 'Straya doesn't seem to do a lot of team huddles. There was a group hug with some laughs at the Commonwealth Games, when team gold was safely in Australia's hands once floor was over. And sure, there was a huddle-ish gathering after beam rotation in the Athens preliminary round. Mind you, it took a few minutes to manifest itself. Would've been better if the team could have done it off to the side and on their own.
Don't get me wrong, the team members are quick to encourage one another and call out advice on routines. It is most noticeable in smaller comps, like duels or trials. I had a little giggle in 2005 at the Australia v China meet when Dasha J was on beam, and this little ocker voice pipes out of Monette Russo: "ROWN-doff!" And if you watch Dasha's uneven bars routine in the final at the Beijing Test Event, all you hear is encouragement (and reminders) from fellow WA competitor Lauren Mitchell. Smashing stuff. Another WA alum, Allana Slater, was always quick to say "good job!" with a big grin to the girls during the team final in Manchester '02. I like hearing the girls shout "caaaatch!" when someone's doing a flight element on bars, it's like you're at the cricket. I don't quite know why but I actually prefer it to USA's ubiquitous cries of, "C'mon, you got it! Nice!"
After comps is good. During the comp would be even better.
But otherwise, there seems so little pep and vigour (whoops, nearly put 'salt and vinegar' there!) evident in the team when they're competing; particularly after a rotation. It's just a quiet walk back with a subdued smile and not a great deal of congratulations. Maybe it's because they don't walk into the arena with the knowledge that, even with a bad performance, they're still likely to make the top 3 (see previous post for 'defeatist cloud' notion)? Maybe it's because they fear the wrath they'll receive once they've erred? Who knows what it is. We may not need a team captain, but we sure as hell need some positivity out on the floor.
In other news, last night marked about the fifth time I've served Zeena McLaughlin at work. The fifth time I've held my tongue, slightly awed, not wanting to say anything as I scan her grocery items. What do you say to a retired hero of yours? Is it appropriate to ask if they're still involved with the sport at which they once excelled? I tend to make an arse of myself at the best of times around regular people so I just don't say anything. I don't think I will next time, either.
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