The Crumpled Heap
It is hot and humid. The moisture in the air is indistinguishable from the moisture on your skin. Hundreds of eyes fall to the lone figure in a crumpled heap on the perfectly manicured field. The pristine surroundings lends itself to everything this event is and has become to this group of young Island warriors.
It is the ultimate in a semi-final soccer match. 0-0 at regulation, 0-0 after double overtime.
"What a phenomenal game," is murmured throughout the crowd from both sides.
Penalty kicks; They score. We score. They score. We score. We save! We miss. We save again! We miss again. They score. We score. They score. We need this goal. Tie the game; we keep playing. The hopes of the whole team are on the shoulders of one player. The whole season comes down to this. Lose, you go home.
The last penalty kicker is also the team's goalie. The pressure is obvious on his face. He steps up to the line and the ball, he surveys the goal. He eyes the opposing goalie. He knows what he is thinking. He sets, he looks, he knows where he should place the ball. His team has practiced this a hundred times. He takes a deep breath, he shoots! In an instant, it is over. Their goalie saves it, they win. We go home.
Jubilation on one half of the field, devastation on the other. The kicker goes down in the middle of the field. The coach is the first to reach the crumpled heap. There is no consoling him. 'He let his team down. He let his coaches down. He lost the game.' He musters enough composure to get in the handshake line and high five the opposing team. The pats on the back from his teammates and their parents don't stop his tears of disappointment.
An hour later, watching another hometown team six years his senior, his smile returns. He's juggling a ball with friends as if hanging out on a Saturday afternoon. The older team also loses their playoff game. It is not the end of the world after all. Life goes on to play another day. These are hard lessons at eleven or twelve years old, however painful at the time, it is all well worth it.
Keeping children active in sports of any kind offers amazing benefits. At a young age, it helps develop; coordination, balance, timing, strength, cognitive and social benefits. As well as spatial awareness, learning to wait your turn, and taking direction from someone other than a parent.
As children grow, athletics provide; building of self-esteem, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging. It helps foster friendhips. Some children, become friends with someone they may have never met otherwise. They learn responsibility and to be held accountable to others. If they don't show up at practice or a game it affects the whole team. They begin to realize they don't want to let people down.
The rate of development varies greatly among maturing adolescents. The child tripping over his feet in fourth grade, may become the starting point guard by seventh grade. Parents need to be encouraging and supportive at every stage of a child's development. Even if the child never becomes the "Uber" athlete, staying involved will benefit them tremendously. Along with keeping them physically fit, playing sports increases good health and even nutritional awareness.
Sports, and other organized activities, challenge their bodies and minds. It helps inspire the generation of couch potatoes and video game addicts to keep things in balance. As the Fall sports programs begin in our school systems, we need to be encouraging to our children. Instilling these ideals becomes the parent's responsibility.
The crumpled heap on the field, was my son. All the hours of chauffeuring and meals in the car on the way to practice seem worth it, when I see the well balanced young man he is becoming. He has seen that giving 100 percent is the only way to make progress. He is beginning to learn the value of eating properly. He understands that protein is needed for strength and stamina. These lifestyle changes will help guide him into and throughout his adult life. He understands no one else can give him the drive and determination to succeed. It comes from something inside himself.
My son has learned one of life's best lessons; that hard work, passion and effort does payoff, even if you don't win it all. You are still a winner!!
Peggy Stone is the Board Administrator for the Town of West Tisbury's Parks and Recreation Dept. She is an active volunteer for the YMCA. She is presently the Director of MV Youth Basketball, and on the Board of Friends of Vineyard Soccer. She played sports herself through High School and college. She has coached elementary age sports teams. Over the years Peggy has been president of MV Hoop Club, Softball, Soccer and Lacrosse at the Regional High School. Peggy and her husband have 3 children and live in West Tisbury. To contact Peggy email; Stone5341@comcast.net .
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