Basketball Instincts

Annika has an innate instinct for this game.  She watches the Bulls play on television and already tries to emulate what they are doing.  She loves defense and her favorite thank to do is steal the ball, but she does a pretty good job shooting, too.  We were very proud of the way that her skills improved, and that she was a good team player and helped some of the kids not as quick to go after the ball as she was.  It was a very good season and we will look forward to next year.

 Kind of hard to capture photos of her stealing, but this was one of many.  She got at least two a game.

 They were required to stay inside the key for this league.  Notice where her toes are.  :)

 There she got it again and there she goes.  Sometimes she would use her left hand to dribble.  When asked why she would say, "Just to make it interesting."  Hmm.

 She was on a pretty scrappy team.  They loved to get that ball and hold on for dear life.  There were several kids very good at shooting.  I was amazed at how well they played.  Better than junior high teams I have seen.

Swish!  I don't remember if this one actually made it, but this was the best photo.  She kept track of how many times she shot vs. the ones she made.  She was going for 75% she told us.

Many parents would ask if I was working with her.  I just laughed.  And I would explain that I was that kid who understood why no one wanted me on their team in gym class.  She got a lot from her daddy, and she just has that competetive, aggressive, and natural instinct for athletics.