The long walk

I was at the skate park with the boys over the weekend. A kids’ cricket match was underway beside the half-pipe. My son walked over and said, “Dad, you’re sitting too close. Please go for a walk or sit in the car like Mom does.” :) So off I went and found a spot on the grass to watch the cricket.

One of the big kids was on fire. Timing everything, sending fours and sixes past the smaller fielders. Fielding at that age is tough; clean catches are rare, so the boundaries pile up. Then came the moment: the slugger swung hard, nicked one, and against the odds the keeper caught the ball. The umpire raised his finger. Out.

But the batter stayed put. Bat tucked under his arm, not moving while the fielding team celebrated. Parents waited. After a long pause, the umpire walked over, put an arm around the kid, had a quiet word, and only then did the batter finally walk off, muttering that he wasn’t out. Everyone clapped, had a chuckle and the game rolled on.

Sport teaches in ways that go beyond rules. Maybe the call was wrong; maybe it wasn’t. But sometimes you still have to walk even when it feels unfair.

Kids don’t just learn from what we say; they watch and mimic. Good sportsmanship is shown as much as it’s said. I hope the Ryder Cup sets a good example. Gilchrist is a great example of sportsmanship.

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