For those of you following along at home
you know that both Zach and Sami are very athletes. Clearly, the apple doesn't fall far from the
tree on this one, as both Jodie (my ex) and me have been accomplished
athletes in our own right in a broad range of sports when we were younger.
In fact, today Zach is playing in a Rugby 7’s
tournament for his school, I'm excited for him to be out there playing again considering
he missed the regular rugby season because of his two month summer camp
experience. All week he's been attended either
early morning and /or after school training sessions in preparation for the
tournament against a host of other schools. I can't wait to hear how he and his team
played today…
Here’s what I learned from Zach this
week. That a teenage boy really doesn't want his dad attending his school sports tournaments, especially if there is
any chance that he may have a camera in his possession. Yep, that would have been me ! So I guess the uninvited me is a little
disappointed but at the same time I get it.
The last thing you want at that age is your parent hovering around and
potentially embarrassing you, especially with a camera in hand.
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| Zach playing rugby last season |
On the Sami front, over the past couple of
weeks she had been trying out for a new soccer club (Leaside) as her old team has
decided to not continue in her age group.
It was an interesting situation because last year she also tried out for
Leaside and made the team, although eventually deciding to play for another
team in the same competition where she had two schoolmates already playing. She was excited when the three of them all
decided to trial again for Leaside this season after their team decided to
disband.
Interestingly, after three intense 2 + hour training
sessions and scrimmages we were told that all players would be notified over
the weekend, but no later than Sunday.
So when Monday came around and we still hadn't heard anything I
contacted the coach. I must admit I was
surprised to learn that they had decided to pass on Sami this year, because as
the coach put it “we already have four strikers and I don’t need another”. The bugger is that her two schoolmates both
made the team, admittedly in different positions (winger and defense).
A difficult conversation ensued, which went a little like this… “Hi sweetheart, I just spoke to the coach at
Leaside. Sorry, but you didn't make the
team. (Silence). She told me that they already have four
strikers and she didn’t want you to sit on the bench, but she wished you all the best
for the coming season”. (More silence) At moments like these I’ve always been an
advocate of get to the point and make it a quick conversation. I did the same thing when I coached at club
level and Team Canada for Australian Rules Football; never beat around the bush,
tell them straight up!
Clearly she was very disappointed,
especially as she now had to tell her two schoolmates that she
wouldn’t be joining them at the new club.
To her credit, and its what I've come to expect from her is her ability
to put this setback in the right context.
Her circumspect and practical approach reinforces her level of maturity,
which is unusual for a 14 year old (well almost).
We talked about making the best of her opportunities, and that indeed
there would be others and that as long as she tried as best she could, then good
things would happen for her, both in soccer and in life.
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Sami warming up for her school
game earlier this week |
So that was the start of the week…admittedly
a bit of a tough start!
At the same time she had been trialing for
Leaside she had also been trialing to get into the Sanjaxx Soccer Academy. The academy prepares players for varying
levels of competition, with many past attendees on soccer scholarships to
Universities in the United States. So when we got word late yesterday afternoon
that she had been accepted into the Sanjaxx Soccer Academy we were all thrilled
for her.
Coach Laza she that she has a lot of
potential but that she would have to work very hard over the winter to continue
improving her skills and especially her fitness so that next Spring when they
began tournament play (mostly in the US) that she would be ready to join the
team. Interestingly, the Leaside club is
an affiliate of the Academy and so some of the players also train with them
over the winter…ironic isn't it?
She was thrilled with the prospect of continuing
on with the Academy after her trial period and especially under the tutelage of
Coach Laza, whom she has a very high regard for, and especially his coaching style.
So here’s what I learned from Sami this
week - she is emotionally resilient and mature beyond her years and that she
has the ability to put things into perspective even when she is disappointed.
However, instead of dwelling on the negative like many of us do (I might, but
just a bit!) she moves on and quickly puts it behind her.
This skill alone will take her far in life!
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