HOW BLICAVS GOT HER GROOVE BACK
STAR’S KEY TO SUCCESS
BORN into a family of top-line athletes, Geelong Supercats star Sara Blicavs had no choice but to learn and love basketball as she battled away on summer nights on a backyard court.
But a sports psychiatrist helped her rediscover her passion for the game.
An Australian Opals regular, WNBL star and a Geelong Supercats matchwinner, Blicavs, 27, has steadily risen in her sport. And she believes that every sportsperson needs some help to hit their peaks.
“I see a sports psych and I have for about the last four or five months and credit to him. Honestly, it’s been the best thing for me,” Blicavs said.
“I think every athlete should go see one. It doesn’t mean that you have problems or anything like that. It’s a great way to lock in on your goals and work out strategies on-court so you can clear you mind and free it up.
“I hate being vulnerable and tearing up in front of people, but I think you realise that if yo you are going to go see one, yo you have to buy into it.
“I just feel so clear and ha happy in my mind every time I go out and see my psych.”
It is no surprise Blicavs batt tled when she first started playing basketball on a tennis court in her childhood b backyard. Her two older b brothers — Kris has played tw two decades at a high level and M Mark has thrived in 149 AFL ga games with Geelong — certa tainly didn’t take it easy on her.
But under the tutelage of her parents Andris and Karen, who both played basketball for Australia, she developed quickly.
“My earliest memories of it would be playing in the backyard with my whole family,” she said.
“One-on-one, two-on-two. It would be Mark and Kris and the first one to cry out of the siblings.
“They didn’t care that I was a girl, or that I was young, they just went for it.
“I think it helped a lot and has made me tougher and probably a bit more carefree.
“With two older brothers, a lot of our time after school was spent playing sport in the backyard like footy or wresting, or we would even make our own skate parks. I guess you weren’t scared to fall on the ground or get your hands dirty, and I think that helped with my career so far.
“There was no pressure at all. I played (basketball) because I was good at it and I found it fun.”
Her athleticism got her noticed at a high level and Blicavs continued her education in the game at the Australian Institute of Sport.
After years of non-stop ball, the game began to wear her down and feel like a chore before she joined the Supercats in 2013.
“I went through a moment when I was about 20-21 when I hated basketball and I had no confidence in it and that probably ruined a lot of my development time,” she said.
“I came down and moved to Geelong and played with the Supercats. That was my first year there and I lived with my brother (Mark).
“I just had a fun relaxing time with Mark and just did stuff outside of basketball and I guess you just kind of learn to relax and eventually (the love of the game) came back.”
Now facing a rare extended time away from the court as the coronavirus pandemic spreads, Blicavs has taken the time out to relax and enjoy being bored.
“I’m doing a few little things around the house, trying to stay fit and go for runs and things but I’m also trying to soak it up a little bit,” she said.
“Us females, we don’t really get a break in basketball normally.”
She said she doesn’t feel like her sport will be any different upon its return and, thanks to her psychiatrist, is clear on her goals when she does get back into it.
“My biggest goal would be securing a spot in the Australian team to the point where I don’t have to worry,” she said.
“I think if I can do that and know that I’m a relied upon Australian Opal player then I will be happy with how I have gone so far.”