Early in the morning, Yu Hongjun looked into the class, observed the students' class status, and searched from time to time to see if any children were "causing trouble" to the head teacher.
She is also busy during recess and gym class.
In the evening, Yu Hongjun and the men's basketball players of Changsha Mingde Huaxing Middle School gathered on the court. For nearly three hours after that, the sound of basketball hitting the floor was the main theme there.
The lights dimmed, it was past eight o'clock in the evening, and Yu Hongjun's day's work came to an end.
"The place I go the most is the arena, the class, the class, the arena," she said with a smile.
The picture shows Yu Hongjun and his team members.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
The interview was on Monday, and Yu Hongjun deliberately advanced the time by half an hour for fear of delaying the team's training.
Earlier, the national finals of the China Junior High School Basketball League ended, and Changsha Mingde Huaxing Middle School won the championship again after eight years.
"Post-95" Yu Hongjun is the head coach of the team, and she has also become the "Hunan Akagi Haruko" in everyone's mouth.
Regarding the praise from the outside world, she humbly said that it was a false praise; and for the future, she had already made plans in her heart.
Image source: Yu Hongjun Weibo
"I'm called 'Brick King' when I play"
In elementary school, Yu Hongjun participated in the high jump project at the school sports meeting.
In her words, "Physical fitness is not bad." In the sixth grade, she was caught by a teacher of Tangshan Sports School and began to play basketball.
However, the sudden arrival of a serious illness disrupted Yu Hongjun's plans, and her parents did not want her to engage in this highly confrontational project.
In the Beijing Olympics, Yu Hongjun sat in front of the TV watching the Chinese women's basketball game.
"Miao Lijie played too well. Sui Feifei is very beautiful, and he is very handsome when he makes a half-ball shot." So Yu Hongjun made up his mind to play basketball.
At her insistence, the parents compromised.
"Go to discuss with the family, I have never spoken to my parents so seriously before."
In this way, from high school to university, Yu Hongjun, who loves basketball, played all the way to CUBA (China University Basketball League).
No matter in Yali Middle School or Central South University, she is the main player in the team.
"My psychological quality is relatively good, and I am good at rebounding and defending." Talking about the nicknames given by others when he was a player, Yu Hongjun recalled with a smile, "They all called me 'Board King'".
The picture (left) is Yu Hongjun.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
"Reluctant to give up players after leading the team to win the championship"
In 2019, Yu Hongjun entered the second year of graduate school.
At that time, she was studying the thesis, and at the invitation of her graduate students, she became the head coach of the men's basketball team at Mingde Huaxing Middle School.
"I feel that going to school to gain experience while taking care of my studies will help my dissertation." In this way, with the mentality of giving it a try, Yu Hongjun started his coaching career.
Talking about why he did not choose to enter the WCBA (Chinese Women's Basketball League), Yu Hongjun bluntly stated that injuries and late practice time were the main reasons.
She also thought about entering the professional arena after her studies, but after getting acquainted with the team members, Yu Hongjun gradually gave up this idea.
"I love the feeling of slowly seeing my own shadow in them."
In three years, she led Changsha Mingde Huaxing Middle School to stand on the top podium of the junior high school basketball league again.
On the night of the championship, a group of fifteen or sixteen-year-old boys would throw Hongjun into the air to celebrate the victory.
In addition to being excited, she felt more reluctance, "That was the last game I played with them in three years."
The picture shows Yu Hongjun accepting the award.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
"The team members are little warm men"
When talking about the relationship with the team members, Yu Hongjun used the word "comrade-in-arms".
In the final of the junior high school basketball league, she hoped that the players will strengthen their desire for the championship trophy.
And the word she shouted most on the sidelines was "This is the answer sheet you gave me." In her eyes, that game was an answer sheet that needed to be handed over to each other in terms of feelings for three years.
With a louder roar, Yu Hongjun woke up his disciples, and the team reversed and won.
"They are all little warm men, and they see a lot of things they do." Yu Hongjun said with relief.
On weekdays, on the court, the players will call Yu Hongjun "Yu Dao", but in life, they will affectionately call her "Sister Jun".
During training, Yu Hongjun enjoyed the process of sharing his experience with the players.
Talking about the thing that moved her the most, Yu Hongjun was still a little choked up during the interview.
The picture shows Yu Hongjun and his team members.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
Once, off-campus staff went to the stadium to pick up banners and walked on the field with a three-meter-high ladder.
At that time, Yu Hongjun had already led the team to start training.
For safety reasons, she stepped forward to inform the staff, but got a tough response from the other party.
"All the players threw the ball aside and stood in front of me. At that moment, I felt like a little girl, and my eyes were wet," she recalled.
In the process of guiding the players to become talents, Yu Hongjun is also full of wisdom.
Boys are in puberty in junior high school, and their mentality is not mature enough.
When a team member expressed dissatisfaction, Yu Hongjun would stay silent and stare at him like that, but he would get miraculous results.
"I will watch him vent and not tell him anything. Afterwards, the team members may take the initiative to come and apologize to me."
"Hope more people pay attention to female coaches"
On the court, she is a beautiful and sassy female coach, but Yu Hongjun in life is a girl with a big personality.
"Apart from basketball, I have a big personality. I was called 'little fish' when I was in college, and my memory is sometimes very poor, just like Yu Hongjun's seven-second memory." Yu Hongjun said with a smile.
But as soon as she picks up the basketball, she becomes focused.
Image source: Yu Hongjun Weibo
Yu Hongjun loves to travel.
Every time she leads the team to play in other cities, she will go to the street to taste special snacks and feel the way of life of the locals.
During the conversation, when the reporter mentioned the title of "Hunan Chimu Haruko", Yu Hongjun admitted that he didn't care about it.
"The title is called up after I feel awake." What she values more is the identity of the female head coach. Yu Hongjun hopes that more people will pay attention to the Chinese women's basketball team and female coaches.
"Actually, many girls will be coaching women's basketball. They are not as glamorous as Internet celebrities, but they are giving more silently."
Looking to the future, Yu Hongjun said that there is a long way to go.
One of the words she mentioned the most was "fullness".
"I hope to have more learning platforms. As a coach, there is no end to learning. Unless there is a physical reason, I will always be in the coaching position."
Image source: Yu Hongjun Weibo
Whether it is training or competition, Yu Hongjun is always used to writing down the key points he wants the team to achieve on the tactical board.
Day after day, she persisted.
As time rolls around, Yu Hongjun always welcomes new players.
In her words, "Sister Jun" will become "Aunt Jun", and she will continue to face new problems and grow up slowly.
When the interview ended, it was nearly five o'clock.
The setting sun is scattered on the court, and Yu Hongjun will lead the team to start a new day of training.
Quick question and answer
Zhongxin Sports
: Who is your basketball idol?
Yu Hongjun
: Kobe.
China-Singapore Sports
: Which nickname do you like the most?
Yu Hongjun
: Xiaoyuer (smaller than children).
China-Singapore Sports
: What is the thing you say to the players the most?
Yu Hongjun
: You can do it, you can do it/make a mistake and get something fresh.
China-Singapore Sports
: Will you play with the players during training?
Yu Hongjun
: I can shoot, and they will abuse me when I play.
China-Singapore Sports
: What do you think is the most important thing for teenagers to play?
Yu Hongjun
: Interest, self-confidence, experimentation, absorption.
Author: Liu Xingchen