"OFF-SEASON? Wow it's been busy."
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That was the reaction from Bendigo Spirit coach Tracy York to the question about what life has looked like since the curtain came down on the team's 2019-20 season back in February.
Following completion of the usual swathe of player reviews and interviews, York returned to her home town of Adelaide and spent some quality time with her family before embarking on the planning for the upcoming season.
"It was great to get home and see my daughter, Paige and of course our dog, Coco Chanel," she said.
"My husband and I then managed a short trip to Vanuatu right before the COVID-19 crisis hit, which turned out to be great timing."
Then it was time for York to knuckle down on preparations.
"I have been busy talking to players and agents and of course I have regular contact with Nathan and Ben (Spirit chief executive officer Nathan O'Neill and general manager Ben Harvey) with the signings, budgets and planning for the season" she said.
One great innovation since the onset of COVID for the Bendigo Spirit signings has been the 'Spirit at Home' Zoom sessions, which has also kept York engaged with her players, as tight restrictions remain in place on entry between South Australia and Victoria.
"Mark (Spirit assistant coach Mark Alabakov) and I have been running the Zoom sessions twice a week for about four months," she said.
"This has been a great way for everyone to stay connected.
"We have had girls logging in from all around the country and getting put through drills including working on our core and strength fitness.
"I think it was not only important from a basketball sense but also the ability to connect as a team and stay fit which has been great.
"As head-coach of the Australian under-17 women's team the Sapphires, and disappointingly with the under-16 Asia Cup cancelled and the 2020 Under-17 World Championships postponed, I had a lot more time on my hands."
If basketball wasn't enough to keep York busy, she decided that in these times of uncertainty she needed to give back more to her community by volunteering her time at Meals on Wheels in her local area.
With the coaching skills she brings to the table, other volunteers were excited about having York being involved
"I started to suggest to one of the other volunteers there was a better way to prepare a dish ... and I'm not really a cook myself ... only to find out later that he was actually a qualified chef," she said.
"That was quite embarrassing."
If that wasn't enough to keep Coach York occupied she also found time to move house.
"We found a house in an area we always wanted to live in and ended up buying it so everything has been hectic from then on with moving and settling in," she said.
Settle in she has.
With one roster spot available for the Spirit, the team is taking shape for the forthcoming season.
"I am really excited with the group we have assembled and I can see through our Zoom sessions we have the right kind of people," she said.
Uncertainty still exists with the format of this season, but one thing is for sure is that coach York will be prepared.
Read more: Alicia Froling readies for WNBL lift-off
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