| 
|
We all know the feeling. At least anyone who is an ex-athlete or former competitor. Playing your rival or rivals away from home. In other words, going on the road to kick some butt on the field. I vaguely remember my first away games in the sport of soccer. Getting in the carpool caravan with my other teammates on the travel team, driving to some nearby city before I could drive or even knew where we were going or how long it took to get there. Being more concerned about who I was sitting next to, how much water I could drink and not get a cramp, or how much time I would have to warmup and stretch before the game started. Worrying less about logistics, gear, statistics, who would play what position on the field. Just wanting to get out there and play. And always hoping there was a snack bar for a little something to give me energy halfway through the game (definitely hoping my parents had some extra cash or had packed some in my bag). Feeling tough. Putting on my new cleats. Or new soccer jersey that the coach had just given us before the game. And waiting for the coach to call my name to let me know in which position I would be starting.
So, how did it come to pass that just this past weekend I ended up carting my oldest daughter, who had just turned seven the week prior, to her first away tournament in the sport of field hockey, where she would play our rival, Shen and some other teams. I’m not sure if I was more excited or she. If she was scared, she certainly played it cool. No fear on her part. A bit of timidness at first trying to get the lay of the land (and finding her Saratoga team in the sea of teams and young girls all in pinnies across the six fields). Definitely a toughness to her, being the youngest on the Saratoga team and playing in her first competitive field hockey game ever. She took to the field with no hesitation and scored two goals right in front of my husband and me and our other three kids against the biggest rival, Shen. I wanted to savor the moment, realizing it was her first away tournament, first goals, first experience of what I hope will be many over the years to come. That’s the tough part, pausing to savor the moment. Because they grow up fast and this is it.
Parents always comment on how, in the blink of an eye, their kids have grown up. So true. Hard to believe that just a few years ago we couldn’t even get my daughter to get out on the playing field until the last minute of the soccer game, just before they blew the whistle to end the game. And now she’s commanding a presence on the field, high-fiving her teammates when they score, and waiting impatiently for the breaks to end so she can get back on the field to meet up with the big rival, on away turf, to kick some butt.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/besporthappy or join our Be Sport Happy Saratoga Equipment Exchange group on Facebook and exchange used sports equipment with other Saratoga families: www.facebook.com/groups/besporthappy.
So, how did it come to pass that just this past weekend I ended up carting my oldest daughter, who had just turned seven the week prior, to her first away tournament in the sport of field hockey, where she would play our rival, Shen and some other teams. I’m not sure if I was more excited or she. If she was scared, she certainly played it cool. No fear on her part. A bit of timidness at first trying to get the lay of the land (and finding her Saratoga team in the sea of teams and young girls all in pinnies across the six fields). Definitely a toughness to her, being the youngest on the Saratoga team and playing in her first competitive field hockey game ever. She took to the field with no hesitation and scored two goals right in front of my husband and me and our other three kids against the biggest rival, Shen. I wanted to savor the moment, realizing it was her first away tournament, first goals, first experience of what I hope will be many over the years to come. That’s the tough part, pausing to savor the moment. Because they grow up fast and this is it.
Parents always comment on how, in the blink of an eye, their kids have grown up. So true. Hard to believe that just a few years ago we couldn’t even get my daughter to get out on the playing field until the last minute of the soccer game, just before they blew the whistle to end the game. And now she’s commanding a presence on the field, high-fiving her teammates when they score, and waiting impatiently for the breaks to end so she can get back on the field to meet up with the big rival, on away turf, to kick some butt.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/besporthappy or join our Be Sport Happy Saratoga Equipment Exchange group on Facebook and exchange used sports equipment with other Saratoga families: www.facebook.com/groups/besporthappy.
RSS Feed