FTLComm - Tisdale - May 2, 2000

Though the temperature was a comfortable 22C there was a stiff late afternoon breeze Monday when this group of ball players took to the field on the elementary school grounds diamonds. Work has been going on as the backstops on all of these diamonds has been taken down to refurbish them and tighten things up. Machines have been working on the playing surfaces themselves and these diamonds are going to be in great shape in short order.

But, ready or not ,the season is underway, as the first team practice and organisational get together has happened and it was time for the gloves and sweat pants. Most certainly there will be a few stiff parents at work today as they were into the first practice of the year with outstanding enthusiasm. In modern society we have come to accept and expect organised sport as the norm rather than the exception. It comes with larger

concentrations of people and the need for parents to have activities they can do with their children. Ball is one of the simplest of sports and yet I have observed that the game is being played less and less, just for fun. It is instead a function, just like hockey is a function. Over the years we have moved these "games" from the realm of play to an adult activity in which children are expected to participate. With the increased level of skill so comes the increased level of coaching and adult involvement. Though our

children have gained the improved and accelerated skill development they have lost the need for self reliance and individual and group problem solving. Conflict is a natural part of life, it is inherently part of both growth and social interaction but with parents and adults involved in play, the child does not have the opportunity to learn how to work out conflicts and solve the important problems and the means of dealing with

those problems in his or her life. As a kid I played ball for both fun and at times, just like these kids, as a function. Both experiences were valuable and taught me a great deal. I sincerely hope these kids get to do both as well. Scrub, street hockey and over and back basketball are the best sports, better then the NHL, NBA and major league. Their goal is fun and personal development.