Not so fast, though. For sixth and seventh graders, football starts at the end of the summer, when we are still sweltering under the ninety-five degree heat and asphixiating in the eighty-percent humidity.
Those poor boys. Not only did it feel as if we were in the Amazon, but this was their first game and well... let's just say they need a bit more practice blocking.
Now I know very little about the game of football. But what I do know is that they start in a huddle, at some point a whistle is blown and then you hear that unmistakable "CRUNCH" as shoulder pads and helmets collide. During this game, there wasn't too much "crunching" going on. The scene reminded me more of "So You Think You Can Dance" than Monday Night Football. Over and over again the same scenario was repeated: white player holds up hands to block blue player. Blue player nimbly sidesteps white player. White player pirouettes like a top, slamming into the grass without grace like an overturned beetle. "BLOCK THEM!!!" screamed the coaches over and over again, and over and over again our defense landed helplessly on the ground. After the third quarter the scoreboard read 26-0. You can guess who hadn't scored yet. We tried to shout words of encouragement, all the while shooting dirty looks at the parents across the field who were now chanting and singing the other team's praises. One of our coaches pulled aside our biggest guy, "Shrek." "Listen, when that guy starts comin' at you, I want you to throw yourself down right infront of him! Do you hear me?? Lay down! There's no way he's gonna get past ya!"
 |
| Their end of the field :( |
Unfortunately, even Shrek couldn't salvage the game. It was just going to take more practice. The other team obviously had more experienced players than we did. So, we were left to focus on the home team's end of the field while our goal post remained alone and silent the entire game.
Next week, guys. We'll get 'em.
 |
| Our end of the field. |
No comments:
Post a Comment