Yesterday was Sarah’s first real Volleyball game. She’s on the 8th Grade ‘Blue Team’ – the second team – and they played the same group from Blanco, a school down the road. They wore uniforms and everything, and a small crowd of school kids and parents showed up to watch.
The game was in “The New Gym” – a name that everyone assumed would help me find the right place. Actually, I’m glad Jane found me and took me there, because it would have taken me a while.
The seventh grade girls were first, and they put up a good fight in a losing effort. When their games were over, Sarah’s team began warm-ups. It was fun to watch Sadie warming up and displaying some real skills with the ball. She’s still small for her age, and it’s even more obvious when she’s in a group of peers, but she seemed to handle herself well and – most of the time – with confidence.
The match is best of three games, and Sarah didn’t play in the first one. The skill level was higher in the 8th graders than it had been in the seventh, as you’d expect. Though the score was closer than it had been in the earlier match, it was still a Blanco win.
Between games, the middle school dance team performed. I guess I can give the benefit of the doubt to this activity – it gives dancers a chance to perform – but it certainly seemed to be an extension of the cheerleading activity for which I have little use. I know cheerleading is not easy, and probably deserves more of my respect – but I just can’t shake the feeling that it’s too – I don’t know – decorative. Girls should be doing something more self-fulfilling. At any rate, the dancers did a great job and then took their pom-pons back to the sideline to support the players.
Sarah took the court with her squad, and I was reminded of my time playing team basketball. I had been glad to be there, and I had some skills, but I never quite felt on top of things. I hope she can attain a higher comfort level than I did. She needs a little work on her serve, and she needs a little more height to work at the net, but she did a great job on the back line, getting in three good digs and displaying a good eye by letting one go out of bounds.
After the game, I couldn’t tell whether she was proud to have played well or not, and she didn’t talk about it much. I’m very glad that she’s having the experience of team sports. We’ll see where this leads.
