Last weekend I attended the SHSAA senior boy's volleyball provincial championship in Arcola. Although I knew little about the sport, I was still able to appreciate its fast pace and intensity. In between snapping photos and taking-in the action, I realized that volleyball, like many sports, is much more than just a game.
For starters, the tournament brought together people from various communities across the province. One team came as far away as Paradise Hill, which is 315 km east of Edmonton. The provincials also had First Nations representation from Kahkewistahaw who, after the Arcola Panther's defeat, was a favourite amongst the hometown crowd.
There was also the team spirit. On top of the leaping, spiking, volleying and blocking, there were team chants, high-fives and of course, the low-fives on the rear end. Although positions and athletic abilities differed, the players worked as one to achieve a common goal. There is a parallel between volleyball and the professional world to be made. A team attitude keeps us motivated to do our jobs and although roles and skills may vary in the workplace, they must be coordinated as best as possible to attain shared objectives.
Leadership was also an important part of the game. Coaches called timeouts to break-up opponent's momentum, provide strategic direction, and encourage the players. In life, just as in volleyball, there will be moments when taking a timeout and seeking the wisdom of an experienced leader can pull us out of a rut. The lesson: find your coach in life.
Failure is an inventible part of life; it's how we deal with it that counts. Teams gave three cheers to their opponents after games whether they lost or won. Sulking after a bad play or gloating after good one wasn't tolerated by coaching staff either. The players were learning to deal with the peaks and troughs of life with class.
The fans were yet another part of the spectacle. They came from all over the province to support their teams. They were a passionate bunch. During one of the matches, a few were told to pipe down and given warnings by the ref. For the most part, though, the fans were respectful of officials' decisions and directed their energy towards cheering-on their team. Similar to the role of coaching staff, the positive energy from fans boosted the morale and focus of the players. Like the ones sitting in the stands, it is important to have supporters to help us get through the challenges of day-to-day life.
The tournament's hosts also performed magnificently; from the opening ceremonies to the food services, they had their guests feeling right at home here in Carlyle and Arcola. The teams even had a hostess to guide the players to the different venues and answer any questions about the facilities.
Those are just a few of my observations from the two-day sporting event. To me, it was clear that volleyball is much more than just a sport.
