Child's Play

I had a good weekend. It was a hot one but a good one. My mom came into town Thursday night to visit and be here for the Greensboro Lacrosse Tournament that my nephews were playing in. We played a lot of cards (thanks Kathryn!) and enjoyed each other’s company. I even got her into the Rush for a workout! She got to play with the big boys. On Friday night we met Alex for a birthday meal at CiCi’s Pizza. We stuffed ourselves. Lots of fun.

On Saturday, mom and I loaded up the cooler, packed our snacks and headed to the fields to watch hours of lacrosse. I have never really understood the sport and this lack of knowledge has lead to me being disinterested in watching my nephews play. But this weekend, I was determined to enjoy the time with the family and be the good Aunt that I am. In the end though, I think I got more out of the weekend then the boys did by having me there. I learned not only about the sport of lacrosse but about determination and effort.

So my nephews play on a traveling lacrosse team out of Cary. The oldest at 12, Kyle, plays on a U13 team. Zach who is 8, plays on the U11 team. My brother Gene coaches Zach’s team, the Boll Weevils. Zach is the youngest player on the team and really is too young to be playing but somewhere along the line he took to goalkeeping and the team needed a goalie. A tough position for anyone at any age. The pressure alone is nerve wrecking without mentioning the fact that the only thing protecting a goalie from that hard ball flying at a ridiculous speed toward them, is a chest guard, a helmet, and a cup. Zach shows no fear. His biggest concern is letting the team down.

The first game of the day on Saturday that we watched was the Boll Weevils. I sat down in my chair in the blazing noon day sun determined to enjoy myself. From the first face-off I was hooked. My eyes never left the field and my heart was beating at a mile a minute. I was shouting and shifting in my chair and watching as a team of boys poured their hearts out onto the lacrosse field. They pushed through the heat, the defense and destroyed the other team’s offense. Passes were near perfect and plays were carefully executed.

The sheer grit and determination that those boys displayed, tugged at your very being. You wanted them to win. As a spectator, you felt every block, mourned every opponent’s goal and celebrated every score. It was amazing. When the game was over and the Boll Weevils were victorious, the sidelines erupted in cheers and chants! Whoohoo!

A few hours later I had the chance to watch a different type of game. Kyle’s team the Dirt Dawgs played after an hour rain delay for the first time. Kyle plays offense (attack) and had several great scores during the tournament. What I’m about to write is not a reflection on him but on the team in general. The Dirt Dawgs lost their first game before they even took the field. There was no heart on that field. No determination. No fight. There were a few on the field that seem to want to win but one player can’t support the entire team.

Watching the Dirt Dawgs play that first game was almost painful for me. The sidelines were filled with disgruntled parents who watched as their children half-assed their way down the field. My heart never raced but only broke for my nephew who would not only lose that game but also the game later that day. They didn’t want it bad enough. They had earned those losses.

As the weekend progressed and I would watch these two totally different teams play, I thought about the lesson that can be learned. I forget sometimes what it’s like to want something that much; to believe that all is not crap; and that hard work is worth it. More often than not, I march onto the field of life like the Dirt Dawgs, already destined to lose. The Boll Weevils believed in themselves and in each other. They poured their hearts into the game. Even when a play seemed hopeless, they would fight til the whistle.

As adults, we need to remember that childlike lesson. Zach’s team hadn’t had the chance to get jaded and disgruntle yet. They believed in the magic of the game and played for the fun. Kyle’s team was older and had been beaten down and discouraged. They had lost their magic. Somewhere along the line, I too have lost the magic. But on this great weekend in the bright sunshine, a group of boys taught me to rediscover the magic, enjoy the game and leave everything on the field.