Author: Knar Gavin
The Olympic Games showcase athletes at the pinnacle of achievement in their respective sports. Olympic participants and the complex network of coaches, trainers, scouts and staff who support them garner the awe of individuals, nations and aspiring athletes worldwide.
During this summer’s games in Beijing, Occidental College’s head women’s basketball coach Heidi Vanderveer served as a scout for the United States Women’s Basketball Team. When asked about the Olympics, Vanderveer responded that she had “the experience of a lifetime.” The team’s central objective “was to win gold and [they] did.”
But that’s just the end of the story, the icing on the cake, so to speak. Let’s bake-track to the cake itself.
Heidi Vanderveer began as a letter-winning collegiate basketball player at the College of Charleston and advanced through various scouting and coaching positions at every level of play. Vanderveer has coached at an array of universities in the U.S. Her coaching experience extends to several pro-women’s teams in the WNBA, including the Sacramento Monarchs and the Seattle Storm.
The years that Vanderveer has spent coaching coupled with the time she spent as a scout for the World Championship team in 2006 have given her a keen understanding and perspective of the game of basketball.
As a scout for the US Women’s Team, Vanderveer spent two years surveying the best basketball teams in the world. Her central function was to acquire a sense of the offensive and defensive strategies competitors employed. This allowed her to tap into the potential threats that specific teams posed, while simultaneously identifying weak points in team defense tactics. Vanderveer prepared videos of opponents’ games to show the team as a means of Olympic preparation.
The U.S. Women’s Team landed in Beijing on July 31, 2008. Expectations were high. The perennial view that the United States has been and will always be a dominating force in the international basketball arena placed substantial strain on both the men’s and women’s teams. The U.S. Women’s team arrived in Beijing having pocketed gold medals in the previous three Olympics. Tension was heavy as the team prepared for and entered into the Olympic Games. They were expected to win.
Beijing’s Intercontinental hosted both the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Vanderveer reported a comfortable stay. “The people were wonderful,” she said, applauding the hosts, security and team chef.
The team, during respites from practices and games, was able to venture into Beijing on a couple of occasions for authentic cuisine and a glimpse of China’s rich culture and history. Most of the time, though, game faces were worn and time passed quickly.
As the Games roared into full swing, the women’s basketball teams from across the globe assembled to compete. A series of decisive U.S. wins made it clear that, as usual, the
U.S. women’s team was a tremendous force.
The final rounds of play approached quickly. In the quarter finals, the U.S. scored a victory over South Korea. The team then triumphed against Russia in the semi-finals before proceeding on to the final round of play. The United States entered into the contest for gold with Australia and ultimately emerged victorious with a closing score of 92-65.
The victory of the United States Women’s Basketball team reaffirmed the preeminence of the players as individuals and, more importantly, that of the team as a unit. When confronted with substantial pressures to win, the team rose to the task, finishing powerfully. The ante has been raised for the 2012 US Olympic team: Will the gold medal streak be broken or extended? The future of the Olympic team is bright. With the continuing efforts of individuals like Heidi Vanderveer, the team is likely to remain at the top.
Heidi Vanderveer is presently preparing for the Occidental Women’s Basketball season – the Tigers’ opening game will be in November.
With Olympic experience under her belt, Vanderveer is ready to lead the Oxy Women’s Basketball Team to gold.
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