After school on Wednesdays, I was given the opportunity to help coach the Intermediate Girls' Volleyball team. I thought this would be a piece of cake, since my own sister (who is in grade 8) is a nightmare- but other grade 8s wouldn't be that bad...right?
Hmm...well, introductions quickly turned into scowls and mean looks as the taller-than-myself girls decided they did not need a female who looks like she is 14 helping teach them how to play volleyball. It didnt matter to them that I had been playing since I was 3, or that I myself had been on teams for years...
What mattered to them was that they had to call me "Miss K" and I looked no older than their younger sisters- and this for some reason irked them. It didn't matter how good I was or how much help I could give the team- what mattered to them was that their coach had introduced yet another authority figure that they would have to listen to...
Some of the girls are sweethearts...and the boys on the intermediate team are wonderful...but some of those girls give me looks of death. After discussing my fears of getting hit in the head with multiple volleyballs by those girls with the coach, he assured me that they are just like that- in class, on the court...some of those young ladies have hit that age where they no longer want to listen to authority figures, or be told what to do. This made me feel much better...sort of...
I have attended 3 volleyball practices thus far, each going better than the last. Yes, there is still the scowl from the odd girl when I make suggestions, but there is definitely an improvement...I know it will take some time, and some work, but I will do whatever I can to help those girls play to the best of their ability, and to earn the respect of those girls who refuse to give it.
*crossing fingers*
Hmm...well, introductions quickly turned into scowls and mean looks as the taller-than-myself girls decided they did not need a female who looks like she is 14 helping teach them how to play volleyball. It didnt matter to them that I had been playing since I was 3, or that I myself had been on teams for years...
What mattered to them was that they had to call me "Miss K" and I looked no older than their younger sisters- and this for some reason irked them. It didn't matter how good I was or how much help I could give the team- what mattered to them was that their coach had introduced yet another authority figure that they would have to listen to...
Some of the girls are sweethearts...and the boys on the intermediate team are wonderful...but some of those girls give me looks of death. After discussing my fears of getting hit in the head with multiple volleyballs by those girls with the coach, he assured me that they are just like that- in class, on the court...some of those young ladies have hit that age where they no longer want to listen to authority figures, or be told what to do. This made me feel much better...sort of...
I have attended 3 volleyball practices thus far, each going better than the last. Yes, there is still the scowl from the odd girl when I make suggestions, but there is definitely an improvement...I know it will take some time, and some work, but I will do whatever I can to help those girls play to the best of their ability, and to earn the respect of those girls who refuse to give it.
*crossing fingers*
1 comment:
Hello Miss K,
I know what you mean about the grade 8's...just hang in there, it gets better!! I am in a grade 8 class right now, and as an introduction, the class was probably as intimidated of you as you were of them. Grade 8's are a tough year sometimes, but give them time to warm up to you. I can't say my experience has been quite as "unfortunate" as yours...but I do know that they really want to get along with you, deep down, SOMEWHERE they do!!
The girls (and boys for that matter) are already starting to form great relationships with me and I know that they value my opinions. Hang in there...you're a great person, they will start finding more things in common with you eventually! Just keep up the hard work...there's a light at the end of the tunnel!!!!!
Goodluck,
Sheila
Post a Comment