Determined to get a first down on 3rd and 5, the two students along with a teacher and the school principal, gather at mid-field to formulate a play. When they return to the line of scrimmage, I remind my teammates to stick closely to the person their guarding, so that we can take the ball over on downs with good field position.
Their perfectly executed trick play leads to a big gain. Two plays later, they score and celebrate the first touchdown of the game on a 10-yard reception. Despite this just being a touch-football practice, my competitive nature doesn’t allow me to rejoice with my opponents, but I do congratulate the student for making a great catch under solid coverage.
Although it’s not until the game is over that I will verbalize it, I’m extremely proud of what I’ve just witnessed. You see, apart from the principal, his son, the other teacher and me, the players on the field are girls who had never touched a football until last spring. Thinking back to their initial introduction to the game, brings a smile to my face.
It was the middle of May, Wes, the PE teacher, had just completed the football unit with the grade 10 boys when he asked me, “Are you gonna come out and work with the girls too?” Having thoroughly enjoyed my regular visits to Wes’ class where I helped the boys with their throwing, catching, route running and defense, I immediately answered, “Yeah, for sure, I’ll come out as much as possible”.
“I just hope they can pick it up,” I added, wondering how a group of mostly inactive teenage girls would take to a game that’s predominantly played by strong and athletic males.
Prior to leading the girls onto the field to throw around the football, Wes, spent most of the first lesson in a classroom playing clips of several NFL games and teaching key rules and basic gridiron terminology. He employed the same strategy with the boys and it proved beneficial.
Once on the field, both Wes and I were surprised by how quickly most of the girls grasped the technique behind throwing a football. “Man, their spirals are tighter than the boys,” I said, while watching them toss ten yard passes to each other.
Though catching the ball was a constant problem, after a week, almost the entire class was able to run the patterns we taught them. But even more impressive, was their overall excitement for the sport; they had a glow in their eyes that wasn’t existent during the basketball and soccer units.
Grade 10 PE class... the girl with the ball is incredibly fast.
Granted, they didn’t run as fast or throw the ball as far as the boys, but their willingness to learn and diligently practice the fundamentals, created the sort of environment that teachers delight in.
It’s 2nd and 10, we’ve managed to march the ball down the field with a series of short completions and we’re now huddling on the opposition’s twenty yard line. “Silvia, do a stop and go,” I say, looking into the eyes of my short and round receiver that happens to have one of the best pair of hands in the school. (The previous week, Silvia was the only student who was able to attend practice. It was during that session that I taught the teenage girl the stop and go pattern, telling her that it will be our secret weapon the next time we played a game).
Hoping to throw off the other team, I ask the principal’s son to quarterback the play and tell him to make sure that he pump fakes before passing to, what should be, a wide open Silvia in the end zone.
The play goes off without a hitch. As expected, Silvia’s route freezes her defender, giving her all the separation she needs. The quarterback’s throw is accurate, the catch is made and the game is tied at seven.
The match produces many highlights and rather fittingly ends in a tie, with both sides applauding the other for a sound effort.
“Mr. M, next time you must teach us that play, please don’t forget, okay?” says the girl that was beating by the stop and go route. “Okay, no problem,” I respond, with a wide grin, appreciating that I’m not the only one looking forward to next Wednesday.
