Mt. Mercy Mustangs alumni, Micha Mims has had close correspondence with international students. Since becoming head-coach, she has been particularly impressed with one of NSR’s very own aspiring basketball athletes, Paris Sheck.
A touch over two months into her new role at Mt. Mercy, we had a chat with Micha to get an idea about how college coaches connect with international student-athletes.
The correspondence that usually happens between a coach and an athlete often takes place via email, with the occasional phone call also occurring.
Mims highlights the importance of communication between athletes and coaches in order to settle nerves as well as to keep updated on the process of relocating overseas.
Micha emphasises; “really making sure that we are communicating efficiently through email just so that we are on the same page.”
Gold Coast basketballer, Paris Sheck has been extremely organised and consistent in this process, constantly updating her future-coach on her situation and relaying the messages to and from her parents.
“It makes me feel that she is a very independent person and that I’m not going to have to worry about her taking care of business. I know that it’s going to be something that she does without me having to watch over her,” Mims noted.
Although the international athletes are given abundant support from coaches and parents, independence and self-management is a key value to have when organising one’s global relocation.
Difficulties often arise with verbal communication due to the significant time difference. Micha advises that as long as there is email contact roughly twice a week, the process usually runs fairly smoothly.
College coaches still offer a high standard of support and correspondence with their athletes, prioritising their comfort and ease of process above all else. The majority of colleges and universities have an international department, primarily focused on making the foreign transition as issue-free as possible. The directors are heavily involved in the international-athlete’s education and campus experience, offering them an abundance of support services.
“That’s the thing with Mt. Mercy; we are all right here and we all have each other’s backs. Anything that she (Paris) needs, I’m going to be one call away,” Mims explained.
Mims looks forward to finally meeting Paris in person come August and is excited about the young basketball-enthusiast’s potential.
“Knowing that her best basketball is ahead of her and to have that confidence to develop her for four years was really what intrigued me,” Mims disclosed.
“I’m excited to have her be eager to get over here,” she added.
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