On the mat with Candace Workman

Olympic Training Center Resident Athlete Practice

Thursday February 28, 2013 6:00 pm Mat Workout Session

Practice Reflection By: Candace Workman

Tonight Coach Erin told us she wanted an hour of work. We started practice off with a little fun and played some 3 on 3 soccer. My team kicked butt :) After our 15 minute game we set the clock for 45 minutes and had an individual drill session. I was drilling with Miss Erin Golston. I decided I wanted to work on using my head more to block shots, repenentrating in on a shot if I get sprawled on, and going from a take down to a turn. Erin was working on staying in the pocket from a fake to a shot, and her boot scoot. First, I worked on blocking with my head when Erin shot in. It wasn't enough action and I was getting bored with it so I decided to add another step. Erin would shoot, I'd block with my head, she would sprawl and I would repenetrate my hips in and finish my shots. Then Coach Tomeo reminded me that I was also going to work on going straight into a turn, so we went ahead and added that into the mix. Erin would shoot, I'd block her with my head, I'd reshoot, she would sprawl, I would repenetrate in, take her down and go straight into a turn. It was a lot of chain wrestling and was a lot of fun. I was able to knock out everything I wanted to work on every time I went. Erin was doing great until we started working on the boot scoot. She wanted me to try and kick out when she hit it, and boy, did I kick! It was the funniest thing ever. Erin would try to hang on and I'd be kicking out all down the mat. She would fall over on her face and try to hold on for dear life. To her defense, I'm not just super good at defending this, it's just different when you know it's coming so as soon as she would shoot in, I would drop to a tripod and start kicking. Coach Tomeo described her as looking like she just put a quarter in a crazy ride and it was shaking her all over the place. We finally figured out how she could better brave herself and finish it, and we had a lot of fun figuring it all out. All in all it was a great practice. Nothing too strenuous (although I was getting tired from so much kicking...) and we got a lot accomplished in that hour of work!