I was never exceptional but I work hard and achieve many of the results I set out to; certainly, my efforts to improve and be the best I could helped a lot more than making no effort at all, and that's something I've carried throughout my life from a young age. One aspect I was amazingly average at was sport, but I worked at it and became better, even good at some sports, and got a lot of enjoyment (and general benefit) from it.
I was an active kid who grew up on a large property in a small country town in Australia so I was generally fit because I was always bouncing around doing something - I wish I had that energy now - and when I reached a certain age, about 10 or so, that fitness and energy was put to good use in my school field hockey team...and I was tremendously average at it.
I had no clue what the rules were, but they taught me and my coach, a passionate former professional hockey player, taught me how to hit the ball with effect, where and when, and how to tackle. From there came reading the play and other players, having situational awareness on the flow of the game and what was required, and maintaining a high degree of teamwork. At the time it was all about winning hockey games but as I grew older I came to understand that I'd learned more than simply how to play well and win games. All of the elements I'd brought together to become good at field hockey were developed and utilised as an adult and towards things that actually mattered and meant something.
I loved playing hockey in school and represented the establishment (wearing the colours) proudly at inter-school level on Saturday mornings and on a State level at major hockey events. But I also loved the camaraderie of the team at school when we gathered to hone our skills.
The team would gather at lunch time and practice a few days a week without the coaching staff and after school at practice we'd all encourage each other to greater efforts when on the horror run the coach would send us on prior to each after-school practice beginning. It was hellish for a little tacker like me but again, much later, I remembered them and urged myself to greater efforts as an adult just as I'd done as a kid at hockey practice. It's amazing the power the mind can have over the body.
I had a pretty average to poor time at school generally, mainly because I was victimised brutally (racially) which I didn't really understand at the time, but I look back at those times now and see them for what they were, times that shaped my future self and I value them. My sporting endeavours also hold a valued place in my memory and psyche as well, the lessons learned are intrinsic.
School, the lessons themselves, didn't teach me much to be honest but the people there did. The brutal, vindictive and disgusting behaviour of human beings and, conversely, the amazing humans as well, all delivered valuable lessons. It was all there and I soaked it up and turned it all to my advantage then, in my adolescence and adult life as well.
At school I played field hockey, cricket, football, volleyball, badminton, did athletics and even swam a bit, something I was fucken terrible at, and I remember most of it fondly. Life seemed so simple at practice, just the focus I needed on the task, on improving and honing myself and helping those around me do so as well so we'd improve as a team. Good times that taught me about winning and losing (and how to accept both) and how to lead on the field (something that would help me greatly later on).
As an adult I played American Football for a team down here for ten years and was pretty good at it and I found a similar camaraderie in the team there that I felt at school and now, not playing any competitive team sports, I miss that aspect. There's a bond between people who take the field in sports, military and even those who form teams in the office and learning the dynamic, creating the right environments, can be very powerful. For me, that began at school.
What sports did you play at school and did any carry over to your adult life? Do you have any good or bad memories of school sports you'd like to share? Comment below if you'd like.
