Rainbow Team Carries Many Colors

TEAM IS PREPARED FOR COACH’S FASHION DIRECTIVE

By Ron Cioffi

Saturday was a red match and Sunday was designated powder blue.

Some teams haul numerous racquets, plenty of socks and even cases of water bottles on top of cases of water bottles. This team believes in colors.

The 3.5 Women’s team from Georgia goes well beyond traditional color coordination. Every team member must pack up clothing to match up to 10 different colors worn during their matches.

Asked if their colors are the usual red, green and blue, Captain Shondria Covington said, “No. We have about 10 colors. We’ve got powder blue like today and red we wore yesterday. Then there’s pink and black and lime green and orange. We’ve got about 10. We’ve got more colors than matches!” She did specify the ladies pack navy blue outfits in addition to powder blue.

Today, some players had light blue dresses and some had skirts, shirts or bandanas.

“Unity is the idea,” Covington said. “We feel coordination makes us feel like a team. It gives us an opportunity to set us apart.” She said the women gain a competitive edge because opponents “know what we’re all about.”

The team is definitely about togetherness. Nineteen players made the trip to the USTA League Tennis Southern Sectional Championships presented by Chrysler, with one left behind in Atlanta with a family commitment and another traveling in Ghana.

“It’s too hot to have just eight players,” Covington explained. A teammate added, “What if we have injuries or someone can’t play” as a reason for one of the biggest teams in Mobile.

Pre-match rituals are also important for this team. Coach Jerome Coxton decides the match color. His other duties include running team drills, coaching individual players and making players run laps.

Another ritual is calling the roster. Thirty minutes before match time, Shondria gathers her large contingent – and everyone must attend – for the announcing of the roster. After the player on each court is proclaimed, there is a loud round of applause filled with enthusiastic team spirit.