TOADTalk by Kara Hooper: The Second Scoreboard

At Friday’s assembly, Mr. Mazzola announced that all of Thacher’s fall athletic teams would be continuing on to the playoffs. It seemed to me that this might be a good time to stop and reflect on the finer points of good sportsmanship (of “the second scoreboard,” as we like to call it here) and on the benefit of athletics in general.

 

This fall I have had the great pleasure of coaching the Blue Speed Jets, the U6 AYSO team that Hayden and Hiram are playing on. I have the good fortune to lead the squad with Mike McGowan [History Departement] as Javi is on the team as well. The season began on a 100 degree Saturday, when we arrived to find no coach, no clear opponent, and no balls. This made things a little difficult, but we soldiered through that first week, rehydrated, and showed up for week two. By then Mr. McGowan and I had signed on to coach and secured equipment, so we felt good heading into our match. Unfortunately, we arrived to learn that one team had dissipated in the ensuing six days, leaving the Black Bats without an opponent. After a quick consultation with the other coaches, we decided that the best course of action was to hold a round robin of several short games, so that everyone could play. The morning was a reminder of how important spontaneity and inclusion are in athletics.

 

The next week we arrived with a newly created schedule, a clear opponent, soccer balls, and the all important postgame snack. We were facing the Blue Sharks, who quickly staked a fancy banner into the ground, which displayed every player’s name in swirly font around a fierce, gnashing shark. We were nervous about our opponent, but once the game got underway, it quickly appeared that the Blue Sharks were not quite sure which direction to go in. As the Blue Speed Jets poured in goals, I sat there as a coach wondering how to stop the bleeding. I employed a “pass only strategy,” but in the heat of the moment, this was often ignored (by…my own son). So, I then employed an “only shoot from the half field” policy. This proved much more effective since no player was physically capable of kicking the ball that far. Soon the Blue Sharks were mounting counterattacks and consistently moving towards the correct goal. At the end of the game I was reminded of how much better an experience a game is if the opponents are evenly matched. The lopsided victory usually becomes no fun for anyone—the goals/runs/points feel hollow, and certainly the opponent takes no joy in being pummeled. Someone once said to me that if kids could decide teams, they would always make it even, because it’s more fun that way. I think he was right.

 

On the heels of this came the much feared doubleheader weekend for the Blue Speed Jets. Every team had one of these—a day when we had to play two games because our league had odd numbers. Even before the games started, I wondered if a doubleheader for four and five year olds was such a good idea. While most young children are ready to run around all the time, the lengthy lag time between games was a challenge. We muddled through the break between games thanks to some perfectly timed snack reinforcements from Mrs. McGowan, only to self-destruct during game two. I had to physically carry Hiram off the field twice—not due to injury but rather because of his decision to sunbathe on the field instead of actually playing. Between the two of them, Hayden and Hiram accounted for three goals—but they were not all for our team. And another Blue Speed Jet, who is not fond of soccer, routinely wandered off the field to hug his dad and take Gatorade breaks. At the close of this match I reflected on how important it is as an athlete to know your limits and respond accordingly.

 

Finally, as we got on all the gear for one of these matches, we discovered that we could not find Hiram’s soccer socks. We searched high and low, but no luck. We didn’t have very many socks on hand that could cover his shin guards, so I pulled out a pair of my argyle knee socks. Hiram looked askance at these but once we convinced him that these were one of a kind, he decided he’d give it a try. He played the whole game without a problem, and actually received several kind words form teammates and spectators. In this day and age, when we can get so focused on the gear—the right Under Armour, the right running shoes, the right uniforms; Hiram’s willingness to perform and/or sunbathe in argyle reminded me that performance and effort is not dictated by the gear but rather by the positive attitude and dedication to hard work.

 

Throughout the fall, I have often wondered what Hayden and Hiram will remember most about this experience. The excitement of their first games; the unbridled joy of running hard, legs churning, down the field; certainly the snack. And then, there is the vivid difference in our two boys’ approach to the game. Hayden is steadfastly obsessed with goal scoring, and as his coach I find myself routinely yelling, “Same team,” as he speeds to the ball, elbowing his own teammate to get to it and dribble down the field. He always wants to know who the next opponent is and to consider how tough the game will be. Hiram on the other hand takes a more laid back approach. Besides the aforementioned sunbathing, he also often runs around the field holding his hands close to his face, shooting his “lazerblasters” at opponents. Less effective than you might think.

 

Nonetheless, I think that each of them have taken great joy from all of this and may come away from the season with a sense of how much fun it is to share an experience with friends; how the cheer at the end of the game and the shaking hands with the opponents to say, “Good game!” helps bring a positive end for everybody; how doing your best, whether you win or lose, is important.

 

And these lessons are no different than what we hope as coaches and teachers that you learn here at Thacher. We hope that whether you are embracing the “Gentleman’s team” of 3rds soccer, or the “Thacher JV Ballas,” or giving it your all on the girls varsity cross-country that all of these messages come through in your experience. And so, to those teams heading off to the first round of the CIF playoffs, good luck. And to those of you who are a week away from undertaking your next season, per haps this will give you something to think about as you step onto the court of the field. And always remember to pack a good snack.