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From practice player to Provincial team in 12 months

2010-07-10

Through thick and thin, Charlotte Sider has kept her eyes on the prize, doing everything possible to make her dreams a reality. Yesterday she was named to Team Ontario in the ultimate personal reward for a youth division athlete.

A few short years ago, Charlotte Sider was a member of Team NB 16u girls. She had made it, or so she thought. Her family was about to move to Ottawa and she would find this next path to be a battle for respect and playing time. Originally from Kitchener, and a member of the 14u Tigers, Charlotte's family moved to St Stephen, New Brunswick in 2006. When dad (Mark) was placed in a small New Brunswick satellite office of Norr Ltd Architects, a town with no club team, she was forced to sit out a season of club volleyball, but did continue to play high school ball. However, after experiencing the higher level competition in the Waterloo Tiger organization, high school volleyball just wasn't meeting her needs.

Determined to compete with stronger athletes, she convinced Mom and Dad to make the 1hr+ journey (each way) to Fredericton to play for the Reds. By season's end it looked like the world was her oyster, Provincial Champs, Team NB, everything seemed to be going her way. Then the announcement came, another move, this time to Ottawa. Time to start again, but surely there would be teams for her in such a big city.

Her coaches and parents paved the way for her. They discovered the Maverick HP program and contacted club President Kerry MacLean. They were convinced that this was the opportunity she needed. A glowing report card came from all who knew her. And so, Charlotte arrived in Ottawa ñ eager and ready to go, but despite all her credentials she found herself in tough competition with the existing 17u Maverick HP program. Sixteen of the Region 6 Ontario Summer Games' athletes attended the Maverick try-outs that year (2008), and head coach MacLean knew that cutting anyone was going to be tough enough, having spent the summer with all these girls and knowing both their strengths and weaknesses. Charlotte's arrival was a wrinkle he hadn't counted on - she was an "unknown" and he worried she could be that typical "big fish in a small pond" player who isn't quite ready for the size and speed of the girls he'd been working with. Yet he saw potential and encouraged the family to send her to try-outs, warning them of the situation. Mom, Jane did most of the advance work and stayed the course, sending her girl out with high hopes and a huge heart.

During the two 2-hr try-out sessions it became obvious that Charlotte was a player that the Maverick organization did not want to pass up on. It seemed that a lot of the hype was possible. However, after a summer of training some very talented players, it seemed that taking a chance on this new girl was not a risk MacLean was willing to take. So Charlotte was given two options. Play, and likely start, on the Maverick 18u girls team or come on board as a practice player with the 17u HP program (playing in non-OVA, Quebec and U.S., tournaments only). Charlotte worked hard and proved her maturity by deciding that she felt training with the 17u HP group would make her a better player than playing with the tier-2 18u team. Here was a young girl who understood the value of training vs playing - was she really about to give up another year of club competition?

So the 2008/09 season began, and no one was sure what to make of this new girl. She was nice enough, and certainly she was fit (topping several index tests). She could jump; we saw that in try-outs. But come on, for sure she'll tire of not playing and likely lose some of this huge intensity she seemed to be showing at every practice! How wrong we were. By Christmas, players were complaining about having to block Char in drills, bailing out on digging against this crazy girl from out of town, and growing a little worried about next year with every practice.

Cheering her teammates on and patiently listening to the playing-time complaints of girls who were getting much more opportunity than herself, she determined to learn what she could, and be ready for her chance. Charlotte not only kept up her end of the practice player contract with perfect practice attendance, and participating in all strength training and mental training sessions with the focus of a starter - she seemed thrilled to get even the smallest portion of court time at the non-OVA tournaments. When the season drew to a close, she dutifully did lines through three days of Provincials and the same at Nationals.

At the end of the season, Charlotte enquired if the upcoming OVA Open HPC try-outs were open to players such as herself. Coach MacLean was pumped about the idea; knowing full well by now he had missed the boat in September. He confirmed with the OVA that her status was not an issue. Parents Mark and Jane continued their support, giving Charlotte their blessing to attend the HPC open try-out back in Cambridge in May of 2009. Family friends helped out with rooms for Char and a couple of teammates. Charlotte boldly went to the try-out without having played a single game as an OVA roster player that season. Some would say bold, while others would agree nothing ventured... To Charlotte just a chance to play some more "I would just like to see how I fit in and maybe learn something new... I probably won't make it," she was thinking. Modesty kept her humble and determined. By 10:30 am on the try-out day, Charlotte had impressed all who saw her; enough to earn her a spot at the HPC for that July. A thrill for most, vindication for others, a lucky break according to Charlotte.

Upon returning home from the HPC, Charlotte went right back to work in the weight room and on the beach. There were not enough squats and cleans or beach sessions to satisfy this girl's incredible lust for training. Madawaska saw Charlotte on the court for as long as coach Geoff Pike would stay. "Who needs to go for a swim or relax, I need to fix my problems" was her rational. In the process, she won several individual awards at camp.

All of this, and still she was not sure if a spot on the 18U HP team would be there for her. So she kept on training. Soon try-outs were on us. With so many players, the Maverick Club attempted to run two teams at 18u that they felt could both be Tier 1 calibre. Charlotte would play this year for certain.

Charlotte's hard work paid off. Charlotte was chosen to join MacLean's newly named ShotGuns. Two Team Ontario players from the summer, and a line-up that would be the envy of most University coaches, filled out the 10-member roster. This determined, but as yet unproven, powerhouse made the ShotGuns a force to be reckoned with.

Having spent all her career as a Middle, and at 5'10, somewhat short in this group of players (six 6'+ girls), Charlotte was given the task of learning to play right side. She went right to work. Showing up for optional practices, staying for extra reps whenever possible, learning the new angles on both defence and offence... by Christmas she had shown that her time had come; and the incumbent right side player knew she would have to step aside. The team struggled early in the year with several major changes, but with four top-4 finishes to end the season it was by far the best season ever for a Maverick Girls 18u team in the Club's 25 year history - and a season Charlotte Sider may one day claim as her coming out party.

After much deliberation, Charlotte chose the University of Toronto as her post secondary destination. U of T Coach Kristine Drakich is about to get a handful of energy and determination that she can continue to mold and develop into a work of art.

Meanwhile, there was still one more goal to reach. A direct invite to the HPC was not enough for Charlotte, she sought the ultimate recognition. A spot on Team Ontario.

All who worked with her at Humber college this past week, were blown away by the sheer will and determination to learn and improve that Charlotte displayed. To every session, classroom, gym or weight room, Charlotte brought her 'A' game. Her stars aligned on Tuesday, when, after playing the best volleyball of her life that evening in the competition, she was selected by the coaches to be in the group of 21 girls to represent Ontario in July.

Yet, while Charlotte would not know this fate for another 48 hrs. She would just go to work, she helped lead her team to a massive comeback win in the finals of the tournament. Nice, but not what she came here for ... "I don't know, I hope I make it, but if not, I did my best" was her personal summary. Ever the modest one who is no longer about to take anything for granted.

Charlotte is an inspiration for young players who may have just been released from a team or had tried out but didn't quite make it. Any athletes in that situation should keep this player in mind. Take a lesson, she is not Michael Jordan (the classic example), but she is a real hero to Coach MacLean, and we can't wait to see how this story progresses... good luck Char, and keep going.