Saturday, December 6, 2008

And there were two!

So; we finally knew what the tournament organizers decided to do. Play the three teams involved in the semifinal problem (Pinka's, Tortoises, Red Stars) and have the best two teams play in the Final and for the Third place. Pinka's won last Saturday over Tortoises 6-0. Tortoises were playing Red Stars today's morning and a couple of hours later Pinka's and Red Stars would play to complete the three games required to determine who was playing who.

Tortoises won their game over Red Stars 12-4. That meant that for Pinka's to go to the Final they had to win their game and losing for less than 7 points would get them to the Third place game, but the plan was to win straight.

Game started, and before two minutes passed Red Stars scored 2 points; then I noticed some people cheering very fervently every good play from Red Stars. The coach and a couple of moms of the Tortoises were there.

That was when I started thinking about how some parents (and coaches) can push the children on the teams so they forget that at the end of the day this is just a game. With rules and regulations and results and consequences. I think the coach felt responsible for accepting last Saturday the game against Pinka's; but when they lost; there was nothing else to do but accept the final score. Trying to compensate by adding support to the other team when there is nothing else you can do, is kind of annoying for the other parents (like me!).

Anyhoo; after several lead changes (2-0, 4-0, 4-3, 5-4, 6-5, 7-6) the final score was 9-6; Pinka's won. So the Final game (originally scheduled for last Sunday, rescheduled for today's afternoon and finally rescheduled for next Saturday) will have Pinka's and another team from other school. Pinka's already played them three times and lost all of them; close scores, so I think it will be an interesting game; refereeing had been much better in the playoffs and with the same discipline they had been showing in the previous two game they have a shot at the Championship. Let's wait for it.

See you around.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I get the feeling mariabonita is not TOTALLY happy with this turn of events. I mean, with the having to go to the games and the socialising with the other mums (ah, the joys of parenthood).

Still. Good luck to Pinka.

J.A. said...

you are so right; however, she had a good time yesterday cheering for the team and gossiping with the only other mom she gets along with. Specially when the gossip was about the other moms!