Its church-ball season! This is one of my happy-times and also one of the most stressful times in my life. For the 4th season in a row, I'm heading up the women's Church-ball league. I'm not sure if I do the best job, or if its just that anyone else would be completely annoyed by my pestering so they keep me in charge for everyone's sanity. I don't mind so much- its the best calling ever. The part I do hate, is that we can never get all of the best pals on the same team. We always have to separate to a point. This year I have taken a couple hits b/c Sleepy is not on our team. I'm pretty sure I goofed on that arrangement, but I wanted her to defect from the other team and just play with us. That would have saved the 'stacking comments' - although I'm seemingly getting them anyhow. Next year, I think there should be a pull and I want people to pick their own teams but nobody gets involved early and its left on my lap anyhow. Separating sucks! I try to do an even job, but I still seem to manage hurting feelings regardless.
As always, church ball is a bit more intense than the talent should allow. Don't get me wrong, we have some of the best players (They aren't usually the problem), but with church ball comes a certain degree of..... delusion. I love it when new players come out to join us, but don't make up that you're a college level player when you probably didn't even play YW-ball. Sorry, but its church ball- don't lie! We play every Thursday, and its rarely a Hack-fest! However, when Saturday church ball rolls around, you better be moving when you get the ball or otherwise, you're going to be slapped (and hard) by anyone standing nearby. People get so deeply involved with church-ball. Everything is personal! Every foul is marked intentional, every team has someone who is too aggressive (and often out of control), and those who don't really know how to play always think that you are fouling them when they are the ones flailing madly. Literally, I had to cover for a team last week when one or two of their players kept tripping our team. I just said- sorry girls, they just aren't bball players, so they are a little awkward on their feet! Don't worry though- they could sing circles around us if they wanted!!!
Speaking of singing-lets move on to playing time. As I said earlier, we have a lot of talent. There are a lot of great players. Most people when playing sports are in agreement- Winning is way better than losing! So, when the game is on the line, don't you want to put your best players in the game and win it? What is it about church-ball that gives girls a feeling of entitlement? My roommate put it best when she laid it out this way: 'If I were to join the stake choir, I certainly wouldn't be selected to do a solo just to make me feel better. So why would you expect to be in a game at cruch time?' Couldn't have said it better myself, but seriously, some people just have no idea that they aren't very good. My team is awesome. The coolest part is that we are realistic. We know we want to win, so we start strong and end strong. Its just a part of the deal!! What is funny, is that our players will often fight to stay out of games so that they can cheer rather than be in during the tough parts. Its quite funny!
A final mention goes out to the Uniforms. Our league spans from ghetto (t-shirts turned inside out with iron on numbers) to fancy (full on uniforms sported by the DC team). Colonial 2 has the best though- we kind of have a thing with making fun t-shirts and giving each other nicknames. One team chose a little bit of a GI Joe route- Green Shirts with Camo letters and Boy nicknames for each girl (ex: Ani = Andy). They are super cute! The other team (the one I'm on) went pretty much the exact opposite. Purple T-shirts, Pink/White letters, and Princess nicknames. However, we did put a twist on the nicknames. My name is Princess Dozer. Can you guess which princess that is? How about Sleeping Beauty (Dozing off???). We have Ding-Dong(Belle), Fishtail (Ariel), Punch-Bug (Lilo- also 626), Reeses(Buttercup), Foxx (Miriam), Whitey (Snow), Tink, etc. Its kind of great! The shirts are awesome. We have crowns, pretty letters, etc. etc. and its great! I love listening to the crowd as we play. They comment every week and it is swell! As a final touch, both teams have the cutest bows for our hair! Its awesome!!!
Never fear _ I will have pictures to go along soon. And maybe a little video clip of the hacking! Come watch a game if you dare!
Happy Ballin'
As always, church ball is a bit more intense than the talent should allow. Don't get me wrong, we have some of the best players (They aren't usually the problem), but with church ball comes a certain degree of..... delusion. I love it when new players come out to join us, but don't make up that you're a college level player when you probably didn't even play YW-ball. Sorry, but its church ball- don't lie! We play every Thursday, and its rarely a Hack-fest! However, when Saturday church ball rolls around, you better be moving when you get the ball or otherwise, you're going to be slapped (and hard) by anyone standing nearby. People get so deeply involved with church-ball. Everything is personal! Every foul is marked intentional, every team has someone who is too aggressive (and often out of control), and those who don't really know how to play always think that you are fouling them when they are the ones flailing madly. Literally, I had to cover for a team last week when one or two of their players kept tripping our team. I just said- sorry girls, they just aren't bball players, so they are a little awkward on their feet! Don't worry though- they could sing circles around us if they wanted!!!
Speaking of singing-lets move on to playing time. As I said earlier, we have a lot of talent. There are a lot of great players. Most people when playing sports are in agreement- Winning is way better than losing! So, when the game is on the line, don't you want to put your best players in the game and win it? What is it about church-ball that gives girls a feeling of entitlement? My roommate put it best when she laid it out this way: 'If I were to join the stake choir, I certainly wouldn't be selected to do a solo just to make me feel better. So why would you expect to be in a game at cruch time?' Couldn't have said it better myself, but seriously, some people just have no idea that they aren't very good. My team is awesome. The coolest part is that we are realistic. We know we want to win, so we start strong and end strong. Its just a part of the deal!! What is funny, is that our players will often fight to stay out of games so that they can cheer rather than be in during the tough parts. Its quite funny!
A final mention goes out to the Uniforms. Our league spans from ghetto (t-shirts turned inside out with iron on numbers) to fancy (full on uniforms sported by the DC team). Colonial 2 has the best though- we kind of have a thing with making fun t-shirts and giving each other nicknames. One team chose a little bit of a GI Joe route- Green Shirts with Camo letters and Boy nicknames for each girl (ex: Ani = Andy). They are super cute! The other team (the one I'm on) went pretty much the exact opposite. Purple T-shirts, Pink/White letters, and Princess nicknames. However, we did put a twist on the nicknames. My name is Princess Dozer. Can you guess which princess that is? How about Sleeping Beauty (Dozing off???). We have Ding-Dong(Belle), Fishtail (Ariel), Punch-Bug (Lilo- also 626), Reeses(Buttercup), Foxx (Miriam), Whitey (Snow), Tink, etc. Its kind of great! The shirts are awesome. We have crowns, pretty letters, etc. etc. and its great! I love listening to the crowd as we play. They comment every week and it is swell! As a final touch, both teams have the cutest bows for our hair! Its awesome!!!
Never fear _ I will have pictures to go along soon. And maybe a little video clip of the hacking! Come watch a game if you dare!
Happy Ballin'
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