Saturday morning again, I arrived at Lobo Middle School at
nine thirty am, rather than my usual ten o’ clock to observe the volleyball
games. Upon entering the gym I notice two things -1. It is quite full (I’m
assuming the approximate fifteen people crowding the entrance of the gym are
doing so because there is limited free bleacher space) and 2. There is no individual
at the entrance charging for tickets. Unlike last week when the game was held
at Hawk Middle and a fee was charged , there is no fee being collected here –is
this because Lobo Middle doesn’t have the manpower on Saturday’s to enact this operation on of ticket selling ?
Well regardless of the reason – maybe I will ask an administrator why the lack of
tickets selling – I saved myself fifty
cents which I plan to go use at the concession stand on the opposite side of
the school color scheme gym. Crossing
through the gym I make it to the snack stand, where I will be working while the
seventh grader finish their game and until the eighth graders start. While I’m
selling burritos (a big seller, maybe because it is the morning and people are
hungry) and nachos (I’m guessing this is a big seller because unlike lollipops,
chocolate bars, and pickles, nacho has more substance) and Gatorade (maybe
people are buying the beverage because it is still too early for soft drinks or
to give to their athletes), I am able to observe the ending of seventh grader’s
game. The seventh grader’s serves, bump, sets, and spikes during the third
decisive game are so great that with teamwork they win. I question if their
superior technique is due to the fact that there coach is older and thus more
experienced?
The eighth grade game is to begin shortly, both teams are
running drills as I find my seat on the bleachers carrying my homemade cheering
sign. The crowd on the bleacher are thinning out, I assuming this is because
during the seventh grade game, both seventh and eighth grade parents were on
the bleachers, and now that the seventh grade game is over they no longer need
to be there. I notice from my seat that not many people are entering the gym so
that means that the majority of eight grader supporters had arrived early thus
aided in the large crowd that was observed in the lower clansmen game. The
crowd and the athletes seem to be mainly composed of people of Mexican ethnicity
and from what I hear are mainly speaking English with some speaking in Spanish.
The Lobo’s eight grade coach is getting help from the seventh grade coach in
running drills, will this benefit the girls as they now they also are getting a
more experienced training experience? As
I watch the Lobos perform warm up drills there is discrimination amongst the players.
Those that played last year seems condescending to the newer players , as is
seen when they refuse to share the balls while they practice serving and the
fact the more experienced players keep on cutting in front of the new players
in drill lines. It seems like my suggestion from last game of the team getting
more united is wrong. The opposing team –Vikings- are coached by two middle age
women, one who I’ve seen coach high school volleyball back in 2009, I wonder
will this give the Viking team an advantage?
The match has begun, with Lobos having first serve. The gym is loud with cheers from both schools.
I have to note that the cheers and remarks I can hear from the supporters are
not disdainful nor negative-from what I can hear the cheers are more
encouraging. This is greatly different from my own memories of playing the same
sport six years ago , and being a spectator nine years ago during my older
siblings games , for back then I recall parents yelling at their athletes for
mistakes and booing. Is this change in cheering due to emphasis on anti-bullying
and negativity programs that have seemed to greatly increase since my time in
middle school?
The girls of the first team are winning, and though not all
of them are getting their serves over, the team compensates by using team work
and communication to get the ball over the net and score points. The ill relationship
I observed earlier during the drills seems nonexistent now- I guess the winning
streak the girls are having in the game are uniting the athletes on the court
as no one is being blamed for losing. The Viking team, though good at their serves,
are not really calling the ball or communicating and thus it has caused for
them to either trip over each other or not go for the ball at all. From my observation, though they have a more experienced
coach, the girls are failing to receive the ball, I’m guessing because they are
giving up .Lobos win the first round 25 to 16.
The second round begins. The cheers from both team are getting
louder, I suppose because if the Lobos just need to win this round to be victorious
while the Hawks need to win this round in order to play a decisive third match.
The Viking team is winning so far with 20 to 15, the Lobo team appear to be
fighting amongst each other as they keep tripping over one another, letting the
ball drop assuming it’s their responsibility of the team mate near them. They are giving up. Vikings have 24 points,
game point is going to have to be 26, for you win by two points. Finally one of
the Viking server miss her serve and thus the ball goes back to Lobos. The Lobo
athlete that is sending the ball over, has a killer serve that is powerful and
well positioned that it keeps on hitting dead center in the gap left by the
Viking team’s formation. She wins the
game 26 to 24. The Lobo team and supporters are cheering loudly well the girls
are jumping up and down with glee. They shake the opposing team’s hands. The Viking
team and Lobo team go to opposite corner to huddle and discuss the game. The
Lobo team analysis is quick lasting less than a two minutes, and my athlete comes
to find me on the bleachers. We are walking out of emptying air conditioned gym,
yet I can hear the scolding the Viking’s coach is giving her girls.
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