Teaching Elementary, My Dear Watson

12 - Football & Games

12

Football & Games

Monday-Friday, October 10-14

Kevin's team arrived at another school for a game. Sadly, it was a typical day in greater Los Angeles. He thought of the old college joke. What's possible on a rare smog-free day in Southern California? UCLA.

Smog originally got its name from smoke combined with a fog-like haze in areas where the problem was caused by fires in chimneys. Near Valle Grande, it was more the combination of carbon monoxide and nearby mountains holding the gases in place, like a reservoir. It meant that air quality was poor, but that was the norm. The kids were used to it, but he wished they didn't have to be. Millions of cars, too much pollution.

Creekside Elementary, the site of the first boys' flag football game, was appropriately named, but there was seldom water in the gully. Southern California was mostly desert. Flood control channels were built to handle deluges. The few times that it rained, the parched earth seemed more like cement. It absorbed little moisture, so runoff from the mountains could turn into dangerous flows, like arid arroyos filling with walls of water emptying into the Colorado River after storms. Most of the time, the creek bed here was just a dry wash, good for lizards and insects. A tall chain-link fence kept the channel separated from the school grounds. Kevin could imagine some curious child falling in for an unexpected swim. Glad the fence keeps the kids out of there.

For the game at noon, Kevin recruited several other staff members to drive his boys' team here. It was one of four schools in the division. Another four were also in the same district. Valle Grande would play the other three squads in its division twice, and then each section's winner played for the district championship.

Julie peeked into his room a few minutes before noon, reminding him to get ready to drive to the game. Kevin appreciated an occasional heads-up because he could get so absorbed in his lessons that he lost track of time. Once at Buena Vista, he was so rushed that he forgot to grab his car keys. Thanks, Julie. Good save.

The play areas wrapped around the school just like at Valle Grande, but ended at the creek's fence. The freshly chalked outline of the football field greeted them, as did the opposing coach. Kevin shook his hand and glanced with apprehension at the size of the other team. Admittedly, it wasn't a complete surprise.

They probably average six inches and thirty pounds per kid more than we do. There are a couple of players on their team who are close to six feet tall. I'll have my work cut out for me to keep our attitude positive.

The game started badly, then got worse. Creekside returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. They were too fast. On offense, Valle Grande executed its plays well. A hook and ladder, where the quarterback passes quickly to an end who, in turn, laterals to the sprinting halfback near him, totally fooled the defense. Problem was that Creekside was quick enough to catch the runner and pull his flag before he had covered much ground. A couple of incompletions and a short running gain meant Valle Grande had to kick. No rushing was allowed on a punt, fortunately. Kevin's defense swarmed the runner before he broke free for another touchdown. But the game progressed in a one-sided fashion. The final score was 27-0. Games were mercifully short due to the lunch hour's time limit. Kevin was glad when the whistle blew. Before moving toward their cars for the ride back, he called his team to huddle nearby. They did so, sullenly, heads down. That wasn't much fun.

"Okay, everyone, lift your eyes and look at me." They did so, reluctantly but obediently. "We didn't play against the undefeated Miami Dolphins NFL team of a few years ago, but it might have felt like it. You guys aren't big enough for pro football yet. But you gave everything you had, never quit, and I'm proud of you. Like the Dolphins, they're just bigger and faster. Can't control that. But tell me, did you try your best?"