Well, this is the week of the famed "Spike the Spirit" Volleyball tournament. When I was a student this was one of the few activities on campus—minus final exams that could get my adrenaline pumping. I loved strategizing about how I would take on the competition. I loved the camaraderie that developed between my teammates and I as well as between us and our competitors—after all we were playing each other Lourdes College students, faculty, staff and administrators.
Before last year I hadn’t played in a Spike the Spirit tournament in 5 yrs. Although I considered myself an athlete in my “younger” (5-40 ) years and I am in good physical shape today I knew there were some muscles that required some vigorous tuning up. So, I decided to prepare my body by participating in the intramural volleyball program.
I expected to see the net, the volleyball; people in shorts and I even expected to see 20 year olds who believed that some of us are too old to play. What I wasn’t expecting is the lack of competition—and the audacity of these same 20 year olds who didn’t think that I (my team excluded) could WIN a game. Well being the mature person I am I decided that instead of feeling maligned I would do the Lourdes College thing and educate the “young” about etiquette on the court.
First, competition requires someone who can meet you on your level and if they don’t then it is ok to assist them in developing the skills they need to improve their game
Second, it is unwise to make “fun” of the opposition by making light of their abilities for as soon as you turn your back all bets are off and the ball will whiz by your head (less about competition and more about adrenaline pumping)
Third, competition does not necessarily mean winning a game a tournament it could mean sustaining a rally, making a great save or getting a point
Lastly, if you should ever meet someone who happily announces they come from the old school of volleyball—which means you only got a point when you deserved it and not by default (rally rules), that you can’t kick the ball if it comes down by your feet (that used to be called soccer) and that regardless of which team makes a great shot they are congratulated for their skill.
It also means before the old schooled relinquishes their drive to WIN they will willingly ignore the brutal spike as the ball slams against their face, they will gladly dive for a ball no matter how far out of their reach—and lastly in the face of defeat they will know that in their hearts, minds and at the sacrifice of the skin on their knees they are competitors, champions and Winners
—I’m definitely a Franciscan Gray Wolf—Enjoy the game!