Rec. Center Open Gym
So, I said stay tuned for the Recreation Center Open Gym story from my Independence Day post and here it comes.
The team was between league seasons at the time. When we were between seasons, I always tried to find a local tournament they could participate in so they could test themselves against other competition.
Being between seasons meant our normal practice gym was not available. It also happened to be in the middle of basketball seasons so all the gyms I normally rent out for extra practices were taken as well. But, there was a rec. center close by that had open gym volleyball at a good time for us.
So we get there and there are a handful of other people there as well. Everyone is sort of taking a corner of the gym as the net is getting set up bumping amongst themselves. There are a couple of guys just standing around and asked if they could borrow one of our balls. We obliged, we had enough for the time being.
As the net is getting up, about 15 people show up of, I’d say, an average age of 25-35 and they just take over the entire court. I noticed they had come to play a game and had plenty of drills that didn’t NEED a net and full court so we stayed in the back of the gym and I told the girls when they finished the set, we would get our turn on the court.
When they finished, we headed on. They tried to tell me they were in middle of a game and I had to explain to them that open gym at a rec. center meant everyone was welcome to use the court – they had their turn, now it was ours. They walked away – and keep in mind, I had a team of 10 year olds with me.
We started our practice and not 5 minutes later, one of the rec. center employees approached me. Yes, me and my team of 10 year olds were just told on by 30 year olds. I then had to proceed to explain to the employee that the rules of the rec. center that are posted in front of the court as you walk in very large clearly state that games are not allowed when other people would like to use the court as well.
He let us continue. But, he stayed around. Talking to all the 30 year olds hanging around impatiently waiting their turn. So, not another five minutes went by when he approached me again. Now he asked if I was willing to have my team of 10 year olds play a game against the 30 year olds for the court. I could not believe what was happening at a local rec. center geared towards KIDS!
I asked my kids if they’d be up for it. It was practice and what better way to really learn than play against bigger, stronger ass holes, I mean people?
So we played. They held their own. They lost by a decent margin but they held their own. They were being picked on the whole time, I think only two of them were actually playing nice. I could not believe that chain of events and I cannot believe how many grown people really take pleasure in picking on little kids. I realized how tough my team was on that night, though. They never complained, they never quit. They played and they worked and they tried.
The best part, the real kicker here. Those two guys that were warming up on their own that had asked us to borrow a ball. Yeah, those guys. They were trying to kick us off the court as well because they were invited to join the game that was being played. That is how they repaid us for letting them borrow OUR equipment.
So, I’d like to give a big shout out and congratulations to all those people that feel it’s necessary to pick on little kids, not let them have a fair shake just because you’re bigger and take pleasure in beating them by not playing nice. And I do mean it when I say thank you because it gives me the greatest teaching point of how NOT to be.
So, I said stay tuned for the Recreation Center Open Gym story from my Independence Day post and here it comes.
The team was between league seasons at the time. When we were between seasons, I always tried to find a local tournament they could participate in so they could test themselves against other competition.
Being between seasons meant our normal practice gym was not available. It also happened to be in the middle of basketball seasons so all the gyms I normally rent out for extra practices were taken as well. But, there was a rec. center close by that had open gym volleyball at a good time for us.
So we get there and there are a handful of other people there as well. Everyone is sort of taking a corner of the gym as the net is getting set up bumping amongst themselves. There are a couple of guys just standing around and asked if they could borrow one of our balls. We obliged, we had enough for the time being.
As the net is getting up, about 15 people show up of, I’d say, an average age of 25-35 and they just take over the entire court. I noticed they had come to play a game and had plenty of drills that didn’t NEED a net and full court so we stayed in the back of the gym and I told the girls when they finished the set, we would get our turn on the court.
When they finished, we headed on. They tried to tell me they were in middle of a game and I had to explain to them that open gym at a rec. center meant everyone was welcome to use the court – they had their turn, now it was ours. They walked away – and keep in mind, I had a team of 10 year olds with me.
We started our practice and not 5 minutes later, one of the rec. center employees approached me. Yes, me and my team of 10 year olds were just told on by 30 year olds. I then had to proceed to explain to the employee that the rules of the rec. center that are posted in front of the court as you walk in very large clearly state that games are not allowed when other people would like to use the court as well.
He let us continue. But, he stayed around. Talking to all the 30 year olds hanging around impatiently waiting their turn. So, not another five minutes went by when he approached me again. Now he asked if I was willing to have my team of 10 year olds play a game against the 30 year olds for the court. I could not believe what was happening at a local rec. center geared towards KIDS!
I asked my kids if they’d be up for it. It was practice and what better way to really learn than play against bigger, stronger ass holes, I mean people?
So we played. They held their own. They lost by a decent margin but they held their own. They were being picked on the whole time, I think only two of them were actually playing nice. I could not believe that chain of events and I cannot believe how many grown people really take pleasure in picking on little kids. I realized how tough my team was on that night, though. They never complained, they never quit. They played and they worked and they tried.
The best part, the real kicker here. Those two guys that were warming up on their own that had asked us to borrow a ball. Yeah, those guys. They were trying to kick us off the court as well because they were invited to join the game that was being played. That is how they repaid us for letting them borrow OUR equipment.
So, I’d like to give a big shout out and congratulations to all those people that feel it’s necessary to pick on little kids, not let them have a fair shake just because you’re bigger and take pleasure in beating them by not playing nice. And I do mean it when I say thank you because it gives me the greatest teaching point of how NOT to be.