Tuesday, November 29, 2011

How I Cured the November Blahs

November is my least favorite month for several reasons. First of all, the days seem about two hours long, especially after a night out and a sleep in until the afternoon. Secondly, the weather is absolute crap. It’s too cold to do much outside but not cold enough for snow and ice, and all of the fun winter activities that accompany them.  The final reason I am not a fan of this month is because a large majority of the male population goes around sporting a hairy caterpillar-like growth on their upper lip (which is a bit unsettling, even though it is in support of an amazing cause!). In short, I am very thankful that the month is almost over and that it is only 30 days long.
                This is the part where you are probably asking yourself: how has she survived this month of endless gloom? The answer that query is that November, dreary as it may be, has had one particularly positive aspect to it: the discovery of my new favorite sport. Just when I thought I had seen and tried pretty much every activity under the sun, a poster at the Currie Gym caught my eye. It was titled:  2v2 Soccer November league 2011. As soon as I saw this I knew I needed to sign up and give it a go.
                I’m not sure who invented 2v2, where it originated from or when it started at McGill, but I think it’s a brilliant idea. This game is played with a size 3 (aka SUPER TINY), slightly deflated soccer ball and four players in a squash court. There is one defensive player and one attacking player on each team, with special lines on the floor that either player is not permitted to cross. No one is allowed to use their hands at any time. There are also certain rules regarding the ball bouncing off of the wall before it goes into the goal during free-kick situations. In short, it’s like nothing I have played since basement soccer sessions when I was about 5 years old.
                The game itself is fast and furious, and definitely very tiring! To succeed you need to have a good touch and excellent ball skills in order to maintain control in such a tight space (that’s what she said). The strategy is also different from any other sport I have played, and it’s been a fun trying to figure out the best plays to try in each given situation. While you are playing you are almost always directly involved in the action and you get a lot of ball touches in comparison with a traditional 11 v 11 match.
                Basically, getting involved with a new sport that I love has helped me cure my November “blahs”. I would encourage fans of soccer and other team sports to give 2v2 a try next time registration opens (info here). If this type of craziness is not up your alley, I would suggest breaking out of your old fitness routine and trying something new-for-you that the Currie Gym has to offer. From Zumba, yoga and boot camp classes to fencing, martial arts, triathlon and squash, there has never been more opportunities to step out of your comfort zone and discover a new favorite.
                December can be as brutal as November for those with a tough exams schedule and 5 papers due on the same day, so cure your own “blahs” by doing something new and fun! You will return to the books refreshed, rejuvenated and with a healthy dose of endorphins to keep you motivated.
                Best of luck to everyone as you finish up the semester!
-        -   Martlet Girl  

Monday, November 21, 2011

Cheers and Jeers: When encouragement becomes obnoxious

            Anyone who has attended sporting events or games has probably witnessed at least one demonstration of poor sportsmanship coming from the bleachers. Whether it’s booing the referee or chanting to mock the opposing team, sports culture allows fans some wiggle room in what would normally be considered socially unacceptable behavior.
We don’t boo our waiter for slow service or make up a cruel chant about an employee in a competing business, so why should these actions be tolerated in the sporting world? Where is the line between the die-hard fan and the obnoxious guy who has had a few too many $2 beers?
                This question needs to be asked by sports fans everywhere - from supporters of NHL teams to friends and family watching atom house league. If you’re a vocal fan in the stands, you need to step back and look at your behavior.
Within our own community, McGill teams are happy to have fans of any sort and are not picky about their motives for being in attendance. So what if that drunk chick has been flirting with the shirtless body-painted dude for half an hour and couldn’t tell you the score even after it was announced over the loud speakers 20 seconds earlier? At least they carved some time out of their packed social calendar to show their faces in support of their school team. It is always more encouraging for teams to play in front of a sea of red created by fans in McGill gear than a sea of red created by the empty bleachers in Love Competition Hall.
                What attracts university students to games isn’t usually the sport itself, but the festive atmosphere that goes along with getting a little rowdy with friends in the crowd. There are pros and cons that accompany this fact. On one hand, it’s great having a large group of fans making lots of noise in support of their school team. On the other hand, “festive” and “rowdy” can often turn into obnoxious, annoying and inappropriate. And the question still remains - where do we draw the line?
                Personally, I have attended McGill games that were unsuitable for younger audiences. Nudity, swearing, chanting, public drunkenness and taunting of the opposition are not exactly what you would want your 7-year-old child exposed to. And it’s not just McGill students that are to blame. I have witnessed unsportsmanlike conduct from parents and other adults in attendance. Just the other day I was watching a Redmen hockey game while sitting behind a father who was openly swearing and booing with his two younger daughters at his side. By the end of the game the girls were also booing the ref and joining in with the rude comments directed towards the opposition.
                The bottom line is that as fans, we need to keep it classy. The majority of the time our McGill teams do an admirable job of respecting their opponents and letting their skills do the talking. When Redmen hockey were on the road at Queen’s last week, they were taunted by fans and even had objects thrown at them from the stands. They didn’t let this get to them however and pulled off  a 3-2 win. This past weekend they embarrassed Queen’s with a 6-0 win in McConnell arena.
Perhaps McGill fans should take a lesson from this team and learn to keep their cool even in aggravating situations. The next time you‘re tempted to swear at the ref or yell at the opposition’s goalie ask yourself: Is this really necessary? Is this going to help my team win? Is this going to bother the people around me?
                Let’s keep showing our support for McGill teams in the best, most positive way we can.
Go Red Go! 

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Hockey Culture at McGill

                Hockey is definitely one of my favorite sports to both watch and play. It’s fast and furious, there are usually a fair number of goals, it can be played under any conditions and skating is simply one of the most enjoyable activities in the world. I’ve played shinny games in -30 degree weather. I’ve played when the ice is melting enough to see blades of grass poking through. I’ve played with people who are 100 times better than I am and with people who have to lean on their sticks to support each shaky stride. And still, miraculously, I have never participated in a game where I have not had a good time. In my opinion, it is no coincidence that hockey is Canada’s national sport. From the ponds and garage leagues to the NHL, Canadians have a passionate relationship with hockey that is difficult to describe to those who have not witnessed it or taken part. It should come as no surprise then that Canada’s top university should share in this national pride by boasting one of the best hockey programs in the country.
                The Martlet hockey squad has recently come off of a 107-game winning streak. Yes you read that correctly: One hundred and seven games without a loss. McGill has been a leader in women’s hockey for several years, and has captured the CIS national championship title in three of the past four seasons. Several members of the Martlet hockey squad, including coaching staff, have also been involved with team Canada in the Olympic Games and other major international competitions. Needless to say, this is one of McGill’s most successful teams and it is always a pleasure to watch them work their magic. Check out the Martlet hockey schedule here.
                Redmen hockey also looks to be having another great season. Currently they sit on top of their division, with only two overtime losses in their first nine games. All of the games I have seen so far this year have been very exciting, with the score staying close until the last seconds. A game I was at last week,  McGill managed to edge out University of Toronto 3-2 in front of a very enthusiastic crowd of students, parents, community members and a few peewee teams who idolize the players on the ice. The game had everything a fan could hope for: action, drama, excitement and a good fight. The Redmen ended up scoring the winning goal on a short-handed breakaway rush. The goaltender for University of Toronto kept his team in the game until the dying seconds despite having to contend with 40 McGill shots (compared with only 26 shot by U of T). In the last few minutes of the game, with tempers running high and the outcome still up in the air, several pairs of gloves were dropped and fans were brought to their feet. A testament to the quality of hockey that was played at McConnell arena last night is the fact that there was a Habs vs Sens game going on at the same time, yet the stands were still full of enthusiastic hockey-lovers. Check out the Redmen schedule here.
                Whether you are a fan of hockey or simply enjoy a fun and festive atmosphere, come check out what’s going on up the hill at the McConnell arena. Fast-paced, exciting and McGill always has a chance of coming out on top… what more could a fan ask for?
See you there!
-          Martlet Girl  

What Adults Can Learn from Children About Sport and Exercise

                For the past two weeks I have been around the Currie Gym much less often than usual. Normally I am in that building for a number of reasons: school, working, working out, playing sports or watching other people play sports. However, until Christmas break I will be spending a considerable amount of time in the gym of an elementary school in Westmount. Currently, I am part way through a 7-week student-teaching field experience that is a component of the third year of McGill’s Physical Education program. It has been a lot of fun so far, and I am really enjoying working with the students and teachers at the school.
                I am a firm believer that adults have a lot to learn from children. Being surrounded by kids all day has started me thinking about the differences between how children and adults view sports and exercise. The following list is a summary of these thoughts: what I believe we can all learn from children about physical activity and sport.

1.       Child Belief: Fun is the most important part!
      Kids definitely know what they like to do! They come into physical education class or to their team practice looking forward to having a good time. If it’s not fun, chances are they will not continue to participate. (Unless a pushy parent says otherwise… but that’s a whole different issue).
Adult take-away message: You should enjoy your athletic pursuits!  
-          Why do people give up on their exercise programs? Why do athletes quit teams? Because somewhere along the way, the sport or exercise stops being fun. It is important to choose an activity you enjoy if you hope to become a life-long exerciser. Hate running? Try taking a class such as zumba or yoga. There are literally hundreds of ways to meet any exercise or health goals you may have. For competitive athletes, if you ever lose enjoyment and become stressed out on a consistent basis while participating in your sport, you should probably re-evaluate your reasons for doing this particular activity.

2.       Child Belief: I always want to be on the same team as my friend!
-          Although this is not always possible, kids know that playing is more fun with friends.
Adult take-away message: Find an exercise buddy or join a team with a group of friends!
-          It is almost a 100% guarantee that you will have more fun if you exercise with someone whose company you enjoy. You will challenge and motivate each other, and hold one another accountable for getting out of bed early in the morning. Team sports are also infinitely more fun when your team mates happen to be a great group of people.

3.       Child Belief: I should go all out, then stop. Then go all out again!
-          This is true for young children especially. They run around like a bunch of mini Usain Bolts for a short period of time and then they walk. They repeat this pattern hundreds of times over the course of a physical education class. By the end of the session they are exhausted enough to sit still in their French lesson.
Adult take-away message: Interval training! Do it!
-          This is an excellent way to stress the cardiovascular system. Whatever your fitness level, you can benefit from this method of training. Intervals can be done while walking, running, biking, swimming or even strength training.

4.       Child Belief: I want to play a game!
-          Children don’t “work out.” They play! And most of them end up getting a great workout without even realizing it.
Adult take-away message: Play while you work (out)!
-          There are so many ways to play and get a workout in at the same time. From soccer and hockey to dancing, crossfit and competitions such as the Spartan Race, playing can and should be a part of everyone’s fitness regime.
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5.       Child Belief: When my team scores, I should be running around yelling in celebration!
-          The other day in class we did the beep test. As the students dropped out one by one, they sat down on the bench and cheered for their classmates without being told to. While the last student was running, the entire class was cheering him on as he pushed himself to his own personal limit. When he finished, everyone ran out to congratulate him.
Adult take-away message: Celebrate achievement!
-          Athletics are an area of life where it is often easy to measure our improvements and our success. Whether it is running for 10 minutes longer than you ever have before or scoring the winning goal, be proud of yourself and happy about your accomplishment.

That’s what I have learned so far from the 6-12 year-olds I have been teaching for the past couple weeks. I will try to think of my students next time I’m not feeling motivated of excited by my exercise program or athletic activities. I hope you will too!