Way back at the start of all this, there were still sports

Way back at the start of measures for COVID-19,

Haddie made a move and scored. There was a beauty in it. It’s a haven’t gotten to brag yet moment. Many times that game she had had a fastbreak with just one defender between her and the basket. On a good few she had the ball stolen. Others she missed the basket at the end. Finally, though, she crossed left, came back right quick, her defender bought the left and back pedaled and nearly fell over, and Haddie went right to the basket. That moment was a culmination of many practices, growth in confidence, courage to try it, and perseverance to see it through.

We don’t have pictures of the moment as I was coaching, and Chris was officiating; but everyone was so proud of her. It was a highlight in her young basketball career. A moment that almost didn’t happen…

On March 12, Maryland governor Larry Hogan announced that schools would close beginning Monday, March 16. The state would begin measures for social distancing or self-isolation. Saturday, March 14 was the last day of Upward, a local sports ministry we are heavily involved in. Sports leagues had to begin to decide what to do. The governor’s initial order included gatherings of no more than 250 people.

Our Upward is hosted by Faith Baptist Church, a church full of people who keep on keeping on. Our directors opted to host our last weekend based on how they crunched the numbers present. Elijah had played his last Upward game ever Friday night. The girls played Saturday, Haddie at 8:00 am and the girls after 12:00.

The directors made it clear that people should choose what was best for their families. This was only the start of social distancing. Not everyone came. Haddie’s team was missing a girl. The other team was missing a few. Throughout the day, some teams only had one player and no coach. Others had a handful of players. Haddie played in three games that day. A 4^th and 5^th boys game became a pick up game with one team needing players. They combined all the players present with newly drafted ones, some middle school girls, 4^th and 5^th grade boys that were still there, and Haddie. It was a great game and a memory. One that seems so long ago now that there are no sports.  

Later in the afternoon a 2^nd and 3^rd grade boys team had one player, we kind of did the same thing again. Some sibling gym rats piled into make enough players including Galilee. I think the boy had a good time. What was hard for him was he had brought serious snacks, like birthday looking cupcakes and Gatorade, for his week and his team wasn’t there to share them.

At the end of the day it was Pi Day. We came home. We washed. We changed. Pie was made. We ate. Haddie had added a great highlight to her growing reel that I’ve gotten to share with you after the fact. In the end, I think everyone was pleased with their choices. Those who came got to play. Those who didn't come got to stay home.