From calling out plays to yelling out defensive assignments, communication is critical in basketball. But most of the time, all five players on the court at least speak English as their first language.
The Ball State women’s basketball team and Swedish native Nathalie Fontaine haven’t had that luxury this season.
For Fontaine, a freshman, asserting herself vocally on the court wasn’t exactly easy at the start of the season. In a news conference after the team’s first game of the season, Fontaine stumbled over her words. She struggled to understand questions. Saying more than a few sentences at a time in English was like giving a presentation in a foreign language class.
Since then, a few more months at Ball State has made that less of a problem. Often quiet earlier in the season, Fontaine has picked up the language, and her play on the court, more than ever before.
“[Her communication has] gotten way better, and the reason I say that is because you’re now starting to hear her take the initiative to communicate things to her team,” coach Brady Sallee said. “Instead of always being the sponge, she’s now seeing some things and talking, and it’s paying off on the defensive end.”
Immersing oneself in a new language is one of the fastest ways to learn it. Fontaine has adopted that style, picking up the language quickly while she’s lived in the United States. It’s shown in the way she’s grown on the court.
“I think I’ve improved a lot, understanding the American game,” Fontaine said. “It’s different to what it is in Europe. I’m practicing more now, individually.”
“You’re around people speaking it 24/7, so it just becomes natural,” Sallee said. “It’s no difference than your skill set, it gets better every day. We just don’t let the fact that she’s from Sweden be an excuse.”
Adjusting to another language hasn’t been Fontaine’s only obstacle. Playing European basketball all her life, she was used to the terminology of plays overseas. The American game uses different terms for certain plays.
“We had to clarify a few things before the season started,” teammate Katie Murphy said. “Some things in Europe have different names then they do here. We got it all cleared up pretty quickly.”
Fontaine’s teammates and coaches communicated better with her once practices started. Like Murphy, Sallee found it necessary to clarify a few technical terms to make sure they were on the same page.
“What I call a crackdown screen, somebody else may call it something different,” Sallee said. “Early on, we had staff meetings just learning how to talk in practice ... that’s important that you’re constantly sending the same message all the time.”
Murphy agreed with Sallee that communicating with Fontaine during practice hasn’t been difficult.
“I never had any problems talking to her during practices and games,” Murphy said. “She picked up all of our lingo really quickly.”
Along with her native language, Fontaine brought many accolades with her from Sweden. Selected to the Swedish All-Star Team from 2009-2011, she took the MVP award in 2010. She also received the 2009 Scania Queen award, given to the player deemed best in Scandinavia.
Fontaine was quick to point out her biggest struggle when it’s come to adapting to the new style of play.
“Travels,” Fontaine said, laughing.
In Europe, players often take an extra step before they dribble. In America, players are only allowed to take two steps without dribbling.
Many of her team-leading 80 turnovers have come from taking too many steps. It’s a habit that’s hard for Fontaine to break, considering she’s trying to break away from a style of play she’s been using her entire life. Fontaine is seventh in the Mid-American Conference in turnovers.
Sallee said although travels have been an issue for Fontaine this season, he doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it.
For a new player who’s trying to balance school, language and a new style of game, he doesn’t want to overwork her to the point that she’s thinking too much during the game instead of just reacting.
“When you start messing with players in the middle of the season, you turn them into thinkers instead of players,” Sallee said. “Thinkers need to be in the classroom. I need players.”
After hoisting up 18 shots in her first game, Fontaine slowed her pace down. Sallee thinks it’s because she understands her role on the team better.
Throughout the first five games of her season, she made 41 percent of her shots. In her last five games, she’s up to 62 percent.
The tallest player on the team at 6-foot-2-inches, Fontaine often sees double teams when she gets the ball under the basket, and knows that sometimes, passing is smarter than shooting.
“She’s passing the ball better. She’s gone from being one dimensional, which was ‘I’m going to get the ball and I’m going to score’ to ‘I’m going to get the ball and make plays,’” Sallee said. “Part of that is her understanding the American game and part of it is me understanding what her strengths are and how to use her. The third prong is her teammates getting used to her.”
The leading scorer on the team, Fontaine still believes she wouldn’t be in the position she’s in without help from her teammates.
“It’s a team sport,” Fontaine said. “I couldn’t do it without them.”
Marge:
Fontaine season stats:
13.3 PPG
FG%: 48.4
Rebounds per game: 6.4
Two-time MAC West Player of the week
Accomplishments in Sweden:
Bronze medal in under-17 European Championship - 2009
Swedish National Team 2008-2011
Swedish All-Star Team 2009-2011, MVP 2010
Scania Queen Award 2009, awarded to best player in Scandinavia
