July 27, 2010 : Hot summer in Russia to prepare for the World C'ship with the National team

After the holidays, I joined the Russian national team and it has begun training for the World Championship. We are currently working on the training camp at UNICS Vasiliev, near Kazan. Here, we have various meetings, two rounds of three days and a single output.

It is always difficult to get involved in the work after the holidays, but this year due to the heat йtouffanten is even more difficult. The room is air conditioned, but it is not enough. The situation is worse for physical training outdoors. From the merciless sun, no escape except in a pine forest, where we went.

Sokolov Boris devoted a special defense, and this is one element, in which our team can add one more. The open air sessions have been displaced in the room, because the sun was just unbearable! But nothing can really be made to work in extreme conditions!

After the first three days of training and the tropical heat, we just do not have the strength to leave the city and see the sights around. So we stayed at the base and most rest days. Kazan - a beautiful city, especially the impressive Kremlin, we passed him on "the road to martial arts. I am sure I will have another opportunity to walk along the tourist routes of Kazan.

As you probably know, this year our team has a new coach - Boris Sokolovsky. A great person with great experience. In basketball, Boris Ilich focuses on the organized defense, and this is one element, which, as I think our team would be much to add. So, now we do a lot of specific exercises to strengthen the defense and spend time in the gym.

In training camp, we are 19 players, we can say there is a sort of fusion between experience and youth. Many promising new faces of young girls, and they all have a chance to go to Ch in the world, everyone works hard and tries to show the best of oneself. In the team there's a healthy competition, but working in a composition as great in number is unaccustomed and difficult.This year, our team should be strengthened by a naturalized American. The selection will be made between Becky Hammon and Epiphanny Prince. coaches have closely followed the statistics of the basketball players. The final decision will be made later, at the end of the season in the WNBA.

In the meantime, we train them all in Russian, almost all of the preparation will also be organized without a naturalized player, and the ability of the "Russian American" to integrate quickly into the team will be very important.

After Kazan, our team will take part in an international tournament in Slovakia, then we return to Novogorsk, where we continue sla preparation. The World Ch not begin until late September, so we will have enough time to reach the best shape.

PS: Unfortunately, the camera did not survive the holidays, so not possible to take pictures. But I found this recent photo!)

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