Opportunities

 

My son had become a bit discouraged when he was 3 1/2 days 'benched' during Football camp this year, basically due to a clerical error by the college.  They forgot to get 'written' permission from the doctor for him to practice due to his newly acquired heart murmur.  

      

   

Anyway, we're all really grateful that he's healthy, strong and able to play this year.

  

     

One of my son's goals this year was to make the varsity team.  My boy is a kid who could play on the JV team and play a lot, but nope, he wants in on the varsity team as a sophomore.  

   

   

During the 3 1/2 days that Bryce was donning his yellow jersey (benched), the coaching staff looked at all the eligible and practicing players for the position of Free Safety.  Now the boy had his eye on that position of Free Safety, but unfortunately he was benched, so he was overlooked.  

     

He was a bit discouraged and said, "Well, it might take me a few more weeks into the season to make the varsity bus and actually make the varsity team."  

   

I told him that considering what had happened that was to be expected. 

      
He told me that he just wished in practice he was given more opportunities to prove himself.  He said if coach didn't pick him for the varsity roster, but he had been given opportunities, then he'd know he had more work to do.  But unfortunately, he wasn't given many opportunities, so he didn't really know where he stood in his chances of moving up.

    

Today his opportunity arose!

     

    

Bryce told me that a couple of players had been benched for drinking.  A few more had been benched for attending a party off campus (during Football Camp they are not allowed off campus at all).  

   

     

During team meetings there are tables for Defensive Backs (where only Defensive Backs are allowed to sit), a table for the Free Safeties, a table for Quarterbacks, etc.  

   

So, while they were having a team meeting, the coach looked at the 2nd string Free Safety on Varsity and said, "You're not paying attention to me."  

  

Bryce said the kid rolled his eyes and gave Coach some gruff.  Coach said, "Out, you're out!"

  

Mr. Talk Back to Coach vacated the chair.

   

Coach then said, "Now, I need a Free Safety to come sit at this table with the others."  

   

Bryce said he didn't wait for coach to appoint someone to come sit there......instead Bryce dived head first over the table and landed in the chair.  He said everyone laughed and expected coach to tell him to get out of the chair. 

    

    

But, nope, Bryce said by the time he had gotten himself sitting upright in the chair, and was able to see coach's reaction, he realized that coach had just continued on with his discussion.  

    

      

I asked him if Coach was going to let him stay at 2nd string Free Safety on the Varsity.  Bryce said the official roster was written up and there was his name as big as life as 2nd string Free Safety.  

    

          

Then the boy laughed and said, "Well, I got my opportunity!"