Basketball

So, our boys had their first Upwards basketball game at church this weekend.  They have been practicing (separate teams) for several weeks, and there was much anticipation (anxiety?) for Saturday's games.  Neither one has ever played basketball before.  Matthew used to "shoot hoops" quite a bit last year with his girl-friend (notice: not a compound word...yet) , and we did replace the backboard on our cul-de-sac's goal this summer.  But that's about as sportsy as it's gotten around here.

Please pardon the very cell phone quality of this picture...Michael is the last on the right in the white uniform

It's interesting to me how very different our boys' personalities are.  Michael's game was first.  Now, I have not been to any of the practices since my Wonderful Husband has taken on that responsibility while his Precious Wife stays home barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen (practices are at 5:30 - right when I am cooking dinner). So, seeing Michael play - if you want to call it that - was something of a shock.  And a wonderful delight.  And the biggest laugh.  Bless his sweet, precious soul.  That boy has No Clue what he is doing.  But he sure is having the best time doing it.  He's skipping all around that court, and you can't even always be sure that he is aware that there is a ball and that anyone else is doing anything with it.  Time to hop back to the bench?  Oh, OK!  Time to head down to that goal? Oh, OK!  I'm supposed to be guarding someone? Oh, OK!  No worries, no cares, and having a fine time.  And is he ever proud of his basketball shoes.

Matthew attempting a foul shot (is that the right vocabulary??)

Matthew, on the other hand, is on the total other end of the spectrum.  He has never shown much interest in sports, but Alan and I thought this would be a good, low-pressure experience for him.  Perhaps low EXTERNAL pressure, that is.  Because, heaven help him, the boy is soooo natured like his mother.  If we aren't good at something right off the bat, we would rather pull our eyelashes out than do it.  And let me tell you, basketball does not come easily to either of us. Matthew is an intellectual and a naturalist.  He would much rather read, assemble legos, dig in the dirt, hike, explore...anything but sports.  But having grown up NEVER playing an organized sport, I knew he needed to have this opportunity to push him out of his comfort zone a bit.  He has dreaded practices and he dreaded this game.  The truth is, there are some very talented, experienced players on his team, which shows him even more how behind he is in skill level.  He guards his "assigned" player on the other team the whole time, whether his team is playing offense or defense.   He looks a little scared to death that the ball might actually come his way.  And while Alan has been trying to fine tune Matthew's understanding of the game, I have been working on encouraging his efforts - as misguided as they may be - and attitude. 

And that makes it about as much of a workout for us as it is for our kids.

All of the above - for both boys - is the reason we decided to go with Upwards vs. the YMCA.  I love that the boys can learn aspects of the game and teamwork and physical skills, but also pray with their teams before the game and learn Bible verses, and experience play in a low-competitive environment.

It's going to be an interesting couple of months.