Spring Sports Update

The kids' spring sports activities are almost done. Kelly's volleyball team plays in the second round of the league tournament tomorrow night, with a final game to follow on Saturday. Her ragtag, small team (only eight players, compared to at least ten on every other team), which did not receive strong coaching for much of the season, managed to string together a series of wins toward the end of the season to finish a hard-charging third in the league. They also won their first tournament game, so they are playing in the winner's bracket with the top four teams. They also beat the number one team in a scrimmage, so they have a chance to finish very strong.

Kelly, as is her nature, has become a solid defender, passer and server. Nothing fancy, but she has developed very good fundamental skills in her first year of playing the sport.

Michael's baseball team turned into a very tight-knit, successful group. Score is not kept, but our "Cal" team could compete with anyone. I became an unofficial coach since I was able to help out at practices and games. The two real coaches provided as much organization as I have ever seen in youth sports. Considering that we were trying to keep 11 first graders engaged and active, structure was vital.

Michael, too, made significant strides in his development. By the end of the season, he could throw the ball accurately across the diamond, field throws and ground balls well, and hit consistently. He was among the most complete players on his team, and played with a great deal of intelligence. He knew to go only halfway between bases on fly balls, he could position his teammates and himself on defense, and always hustled on the basepaths. In the last game, he darted to his left from his position as "pitcher" (sort of a close shortstop) to field a sharply hit ground ball, and came up throwing a quick dart to first base. The throw was about an inch above his first baseman's glove, although it would have been perfect had an adult received the throw. The play did not result in an out, but it was done so smoothly, which such a strong throw, that it drew ooh and ahs from the parents.

Michael's batting also improved over the course of the season. He never became the most powerful hitter on his team because he was smaller than most of his teammates, but he learned how to make good contact. Thanks to his coaches, his technique improved dramatically, from swinging off his front foot:


to keeping his weight back properly:


That last picture shows the traveling road show our team became. On gameday, while some kids warmed up their arms, others hit in the portable batting cage the coach brought (the blue structure in the background) while the rest hit wiffle balls (what Michael is doing in the foreground).

I ended up as the wiffle ball coach for practices and pregames, then bench coach during the games (which amounts to making sure the right kid has a batting helmet on at the right time). It was a pleasure to get to know these boys over the course of the season, especially since we run into these kids everywhere: at school, on other sports teams, at the swim club, in stores around town. I also helped out with Kelly's volleyball team, so I got a chance to work with older kids as well. All told, it has been a very fun, very successful spring season, which will finally conclude Saturday.

Just in team for the swim team's first meet on Sunday.