From the Sidelines...

To some hearing this title, you may wonder where I am going with this... Just like the title states, I am going to talk about my experience from the sidelines. Before starting this job, I attended many of Sandy Creek’s sporting events. However, I did not know many of the kids playing, and never truly got any close up views of the sports. I am the youngest of four. One of my sisters is ten years older than me. When it was time for me to be involved in sports, she was breaking records in college athletics. I wasn’t the most athletic child, and, therefore, didn’t go out for any sports, as we were usually traveling around to watch my older siblings. The first sporting event I attended for Sandy Creek was football. I have never been on the sidelines before. This, like I said, was my first experience covering anything like this, but I have to say, it is, and most likely will continue to be, my favorite. This past Friday was the last football game for Sandy Creek this season. It was a rough game, but I am so proud of them, all the same. When you watch from the sidelines, you get involved on a whole new level. You hear the coaches talking to (and sometimes yelling) at the kids. Some coaches from other teams, quite frankly, appauled me. You hear them encourage and cheer on their team. There are also some jabs at the refs here and there. Seeing the kids interact with each other and their coaches is a sight to behold. They really encourage one another, they keep the other team members cheering, even when times are rough. Being on the sidelines, you get to hear numerous jokes between the coaching staff. After a few games, some of the jokes were on me. Everyone starts to make you feel like you are a part of the game and the team. Once you start appearing over and over, you get more immursed with the team. When I started covering football, I kept my distance on the sidelines. By the last game, I was right there in between players and coaches snapping pictures. As I said, I love my Friday Night Lights, but they have come to an end this season. I will miss running back and forth on the sidelines. I will miss the yelling and encouraging. I will miss the jokes. I will even miss being the one they are joking about. I noticed quickly how they integrate themselves as a team. I noticed who excels at what position. I saw first-hand how they react to a great play, and how they react when things didn’t go as planned. My view from the sidelines was from a distance, but also submerged into the sport. No, I did not play the game, but I watched the kids, I cheered them on, I cringed when they got a hard hit. I got a whole new perspective and I am grateful. My kids are just starting sports. There is so much for them to learn, so many areas to grow. I will be watching them from the sidelines, cheering, and sometimes cringing. I love watching the team dynamic that has developed already. Football may be over, and that may be the only sport I can actually be so fully immersed in (I don’t think the basketball or volleyball coaches want me sitting on the bench in between players), but I will still be attending all the other sports, snapping pictures from the sidelines, watching and learning about a whole new sport. I can’t wait! Good job Sandy Creek football boys. You were a joy to watch. Thank you for letting me push my way into your games. I look forward to next year and all the other sports I will be covering this year. I will not, however, miss the smell on the sidelines of the football field.