Thursday, February 23, 2006

What do you mean I'm the Elementary Athletic Director?

I've been told that I need to post more often; I don't know what they mean, it hasn't even been a month! So, here it is.
This is the first year that I have had to teach a full year of PE to my class. (Thank goodness for athletic high school students!) As a child, teenager, adult... I have not really had any interest in sports. The whole competition, get in your face, sweating, pressure thing was just not for me. In high school, PE was always, volleyball, basketball, softball, and track - well except for grade 10, where we did trampoline, skiing, windsurfing, and various other nontraditional PE activities. Thank you, Mr. Fenn - and I really was terrible at all of them, but especially basketball. My mind knew the theory, but my body just didn't get it. Anyways, it's been interesting being on the other end of the PE lesson. I have learned so much about basketball in the past few months. Not only have I had to teach PE, but I have also had the opportunity to be the Elementary Athletic Director - not too much work - and the teacher sponsor for the Bantam Girls bball team. This means I have actually gone to several games. You wouldn't believe how much my sports lingo has improved. Now as I watch the game, I can sound like I know what I am talking about.
"Get on your check!"
"Push to the key!' etc.
I know the difference between a half-court and a full-court press, a lay-up and a foul shot. I know what double dribble means, and I can spot travelling - even if the refs sometimes can't. All this to say, I can't say bball is something I would actively pursue for myself, but it isn't the deep, dark mystery it once was. I enjoy watching the students play - and who ever thought I would say that. The funniest thing happened in PE class a few weeks back. I normally have high school students come and help me with PE. This day, they were all busy, so I went solo. I was reviewing with the students the benefit of using the backboard, and the square marked out onto it, to improve their chances of sinking a shot. I told them that I had never been athletic in high school, and really wasn't a good shot, but we would go over the theory. So, I took aim, and released the ball. To my utter surprise, it went in. The students applauded, and I told them it had to be a fluke. I tried again, and it went in again. I couldn't miss! (Now why couldn't this have happened in high school?) It was pretty funny. Well, that's my ramble about sports. (Amanda - do you like my Marvin picture? If you look at this before Claire has a chance to work her magic on it, come back in a few days and look at it again.)