Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

One of my favorite memories from the 5/8 Summer Program this year happened during a game of dodgeball, believe it or not.  Every day we played organized team sports for half an hour, and everyone is required to participate.  We do this not only for the physical activity and because it's fun (for most), but it lets us emphasize good sportsmanship (which many of the boys do not yet excel in).  Before every game (whether it's soccer, basketball, football, ultimate frisbee, kickball, or dodgeball), we go over the three rules: play by the rules of the game, respect your teammates and opponents, and shake hands after the game.

We always try to make the teams as even as possible, but after the first few games, the boys asked that we play kids versus leaders.  We giddily accepted, hoping to recreate the famous Billy Madison scene.  While we're grown men and they're 10-13 years olds, they did have us outnumbered 11 to 5.  In the first minute, the kids were dropping like flies.  I couldn't help but laugh at how easy this was.  But as their numbers thinned, it got increasingly difficult for us.  A leader had his throw caught, and another couple got hit.  All of a sudden, it was two-on-two, Thomas and I versus J and C.  J probably had the best arm on his team.  C is not much of an athlete; during free time, he usually plays foosball while most of the boys play basketball.  If we let the kids pick the teams, he'd probably be the last one picked.  I caught C not looking near the half line, but in my excitement running towards him, I crossed the line and was out.  Thomas got J out, and it was just him and C.  This matchup was so lopsided that Vegas would probably refuse to take bets on it.  With the rest of the kids cheering C on, and us pulling for Thomas, they battled back and forth.  As Thomas's arm tired, he hurled the ball toward C, and C caught it!  Thomas was out, the kids won, and C was the hero!  His teammates roared and ran to mob him, hugging him and slapping him on the back.  I've never seen anyone smile so big.  I was so excited that C got to experience that moment, and so happy to see the way his teammates embraced him.  Losing never felt so good.