Team(s) work

Last weekend was one of sport. On Saturday, my eldest daughter and I played hockey. The match was up the county and so took up most of the day – meeting up with teammates to travel, the journey there and back, and time to warm up and cool down afterwards. Sadly, we were defeated on this occasion. You win some and you lose some, but the outcome doesn’t often detract from the enjoyment.

Sunday involved a gymnastics competition, this time down the coast in another county, but again, taking up most of the day. My younger daughter was competing with her sports acrobatics trio – the routine lasting just two and a half minutes. As I sat with the other parents from our club, one of the mums mentioned being able spot the first-timers… They watched all the routines and clapped each pair or trio on and off – therein madness lies, not to mention sore hands! Veteran competition attenders, like us, really only watch their own child’s pair or trio and their clubmates compete, or at a push will watch the other competitors in their category, to try to gauge who will ‘place’ in the medals.

Some years ago, another gymnastics mum wrote a wonderful blog piece about our club here. It really captures that special something about it, and brought a tear to my eye when I read it.

There is something tremendously valuable about being part of a team, or a club. I was late to hockey, only joining my local team at the ripe old age of 38. I had played at school, but a pulled ligament at 17 put me out for months and I never went back. Having now had the benefit of a few seasons of playing, I can honestly say that not playing team sports after leaving school and into adulthood is one of my big regrets. It’s such a brilliant way to connect with like-minded people. When I hear my team mates talking about their uni teams, or others they played for when living elsewhere, and the hijinks of infamous hockey tours they’ve been on, I feel very envious.

We’re a sociable team, who range in age from mid-teens to (significantly) over 50. Several players have had babies and returned to play – two are currently expecting and are apparently syncing their babies. We will soon lose one of our teenagers to gap year travel… of course, there will be a Bon Voyage evening! As someone who works entirely from home, I really value the social aspect, but also appreciate improving at something with practice, as well as keeping my body moving regularly. It’s great to be part of a joint venture. That shows up in lots of ways – from people stepping up into the club roles necessary to keep us all playing week in, week out, to taking turns to wash the away shirts.

I see the many benefits of team sports for my daughters too – commitment to training; showing up for their teammates, even when they don’t feel like it or an invitation from friends beckons. How to win and lose gracefully. How to receive feedback. Resilience. Genuinely supportive female friendships. The capacity to be, as well as learn from, a role model - in life lessons as wells sports. As they get older I really hope that they will keep up club sport. Yoga, jogging, swimming etcetera are all well and good, but they cannot replicate that ‘girls together’ feeling or the whoops of joy when your team mate scores (or saves) a goal, or lands that back somersault.