The more were available for them and they know were available

STANFORD, Calif. -- Erica McCall is approaching her Stanford teammates with a bit more care and thought these days.The Cardinal womens basketball team went through a communication workshop to improve conversation on and off the court, one of several activities planned by Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer to develop chemistry and a close-knit group.The biggest takeaway I got from it was talking to teammates individually and how I can approach them, said McCall, a senior forward. I know that not every teammate is the same, so its just finding the right balance of how Im going to approach them. Some of them you might have to have a different tone of how you approach them.From stand-up paddleboarding outings on the Palouse at Washington State to Arizonas players cooking meals together with a chef in an out-of-the-way cabin, coaches around the Pac-12 Conference are finding unique ways to build strong bonds through creative team-building ideas for their women.June Daughertys Washington State team has players representing seven different countries. Along with paddleboarding on the Snake River, the Cougars took a retreat to Coeur dAlene in Idaho and recently went through a cooking lesson with their team sports nutritionist.California coach Lindsay Gottlieb holds periodic Lessons With Geezy, when the Golden Bears discuss anything from financial planning to world events and social issues, or go over chapters from a leadership book. Last Saturday, they focused on family, complete with a slideshow featuring baby pictures of players, coaches and staff -- and Gottlieb surprised them at the end by announcing her pregnancy .She always makes sure players are aware of things going on outside of our gym, new assistant Wendale Farrow said. Its nice to have a boss so invested in her players and staff.In Tucson, Arizona is getting creative under first-year coach and former star Adia Barnes, who recently showed an outdoor movie at her house and players paired up to bring one dish they had cooked before everyone made Smores at the fire pit. Dejza James, whose mother is Indian, made traditional samosas.The Wildcats have gone 14-76 in Pac-12 play the past five seasons and finished the 2015-16 conference schedule by losing 11 of 12.Im trying to give us more time together, Barnes said. Its been really important and useful for this group. This group hasnt had that much success and they havent been super confident, so whatever I can do to build them up, thats important to me.VanDerveer is constantly evolving and finding new ways to push herself and do her job well depending on the makeup of her team. Her Cardinal, picked to finish second in the Pac-12 behind UCLA , were preparing for Cal Poly to open the season Friday.VanDerveer gave a book to each player and they in return gifted her with some new reading material.One day in mid-September, the Cardinal spent just more than an hour in Championship Communication with Betsy Butterick to develop communication techniques and understand how a teammate might react to a certain approach from another. They later held a goal-setting meeting.We did a really fun and a great beneficial communication workshop, VanDerveer said. This team has been just great. You just feel were on the same page. You dont want surprises. You dont want to be surprised -- `whats everyone doing? -- I like to practice everything. We practice everything. How were going to warm up. How were going to come out of a game. Theres the anthem. We have freshmen, they forget to check in at the table. Were going to go over everything.On one Fun Friday, Stanford played water polo. The Cardinal had a conversation with football coach David Shaw and former Stanford dean Julie Lythcott-Haims, who wrote How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success. Stanford did a Skype session with author Jon Gordon, who wrote The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy.A rock climbing course was in the works. On Thursday, three-time Olympic volleyball champion and current U.S. womens coach Karch Kiraly -- who has done his own communication exercises with the Americans through peer evaluations -- spoke to the team before he worked TV for the USC-Stanford volleyball match at Maples Pavilion.You just have to tune in to what this group of student-athletes needs, VanDerveer said.After the session with Butterick , players emailed her one communication element they wanted to work on and Butterick responded. Shes a former Stanford camper and camp coach, and intern with the Cardinal who has worked as an assistant elsewhere. Now, she wants to help coaches be at their best for their teams.For McCall -- nicknamed Bird -- Butterick suggested a sit-down chat with teammates that focuses on their personal goals and what it takes to reach them -- including reminders along the way to stay accountable, such as, Whats the best way for you to work hard? McCall said.Im really excited about how I want to use those tips leading into the season, she said.At Washington State in rural Pullman, Daugherty has players from Australia, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Macedonia, Portugal and Serbia. Communication is so crucial, and many of the women attend summer school to get a head start.In the offseason we have a little more time with them outside of basketball, Daugherty said. There are so many neat things to see around our area and its great to be able to experience that with these young people. Its important were an open, communicative staff and that were good listeners. ... Its a task to kind of bring all these cultures together. The more were available for them and they know were available for them for more than just basketball, all the better. Edmundo Sosa .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Matt Wieters . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-yadier-molina-jersey-large-1091q.html . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Custom Ozzie Smith Jersey . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. Matt Carpenter .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Editors Note: You can still vote below if you feel so inclined, but we finalized the tallies and have moved on to the Final Four.How will you best remember Big Papi?How will you best remember Big Papi?As David Ortizs final regular season hits its home stretch, were asking fans to select the Boston Red Sox sluggers signature achievement.A week ago, we began the Big Papi Bracket with an opening round of 32 moments. Last Thursday, we revealed the Sweet 16. Today, its the Elite Eight. On Thursday, the Final Four.And next Monday, the championship round.All you have to do is vote.Green Monster RegionNo. 1 seed: Oct. 17, 2004 -- With the Red Sox down 3-0 in the American League Championship Series, Ortiz hits a 12th-inning, two-run, walk-off home run against?Paul Quantrill to beat the New York Yankees and spark Bostons historic series comeback.No. 2 seed: Oct. 20, 2004 -- His two-run home run off Yankees starter Kevin Brown in the first inning of Game 7 of the ALCS starts the scoring in a curse-breaking blowout in the Bronx. Ortiz is named MVP of the series after hitting .387 with three home runs and 11 RBIs.Pesky Pole RegionNo. 1 seed: Oct. 13, 2013 -- Ortiz sends Torii Hunter tumbling over the right-field wall at Fenway Park -- and turns a celebrating Boston cop, Steve Horgan, into a celebrity -- with a grand slam that turns the tide in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers.No. 2 seed: Oct. 8, 2004 -- ALCS, here we come! Ortizs two-run, 10th-inning home run off Jarrod Washburn sweeps the Anaheim Angels out of the ALDS and sets up an all-time classic series witth the Yankees.ddddddddddddThe Triangle RegionNo. 1 seed: April 20, 2013 -- The only No. 1 seed not in October, but its a serious contender for the crown nonetheless. Otherwise known as The Speech, Ortiz addresses the Fenway faithful, the city of Boston and the entire country in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing. All right, Boston, Big Papi says. This jersey that we wear today, it doesnt say Red Sox. It says Boston. We want to thank you, Mayor [Thomas] Menino, Governor [Deval] Patrick, the whole police department for the great job that they did this past week. This is our f---ing city. And nobodys going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong.No. 2 seed: Oct. 27, 2013 -- Since were on the subject of speeches, Big Papis Game 4 pep talk in the dugout helps rally his teammates to a 4-2 win, tying the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals after Boston had dropped Games 2 and 3.Yawkey Way RegionNo. 1 seed: Oct. 18, 2004 -- Down 3-1 in the ALCS (after his walk-off home run in Game 4), Ortiz smacks a two-out, game-winning single in the 14th inning off Yankees reliever Esteban Loaiza to bring Boston within a game of tying the series.No. 2 seed: Oct. 27, 2004: Its more a team moment than simply an Ortiz moment, but Big Papi celebrating the Red Soxs first World Series title in 86 years -- after hitting .308 with a home run and four RBIs in a sweep of the Cardinals -- could give the No. 1 seed in the Yawkey Way Region a run for its money. ' ' '