Wear cleats. If I could offer you only one tip for future kickball games, cleats would be it. The long term benefits of cleats have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis or
reliable then my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice....now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your kicking abilities. Oh, nevermind, you won't understand the power and beauty of your kicking abilities until they've faded, but trust me in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of
yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how many potential homerun opportunities lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. Your sweep of the leg is not as bad as you imagine.
Don't worry about a dropped ball in the outfield, or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles during your game are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind: the kind that blindsides you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday, or that baserunner that started at first, rounded second and advanced all the way to third.
Do one thing every week that amazes yourself, and everyone else cheering on your team from the sidelines.
Sing. (it keeps the team spirit up)
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts if you know that there's a hottie on another team that has a crush on you; don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss. (before every game, because you never know who's going to be close enough to notice at the sponsor bar later)
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The season is long, and in the end, it's really about having a blast and hopefully making it to the Founder's Cup.
Remember compliments you receive on your reffing; forget the insults, but study the rules, please. (if you aren't succeeding in this, check with season leadership and they're always happy to help).
Keep your old love letters from flames on both other teams and your own; throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch. (before every game)
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to drink at the sponsor bar postgame. The most interesting people I know didn't know what they wanted when they first walked into the bar; some of the most interesting veteran players still don't and change it up each week based on the specials.
Get plenty of Calcium. Be kind to your knees -- you'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll make it to Founder's Cup, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll win your league championship, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll win your league's regular season; maybe you'll win the 'team most likely to call out sick on Thursdays' award at the End of Season Party.
Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself, either. Your team's chances are part recruiting, part spirit, and part making sure you have 4 guys and 4 gals to field a team each week. so are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body: use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or what other people think of it; it's the greatest instrument you'll ever own to kick away, bunt, catch and slide.
Dance...even if you have no where to do it but on the field after a huge win against your rival team.
Read the rules (if you don't follow them, the refs will call you out on it.
Do not read beauty magazines; they will only make you feel ugly. But the weekly blog most certainly will not, so make sure you check this thing out all the time.
Get to know your teammates; you never know when they'll have to miss a game for something silly like work or a family vacation.
Be nice to your refs: they're going to be making the decisions while you play. Duh.
Understand that seasons come and go, but you should always work hard and have a blast during each one of them. Work hard to bridge the gaps between
geography and lifestyle and the other teams in the league, because the further into the season we get, the more you're going to need to know who's going to boot the ball deep into left field.
Accept certain inalienable truths: bunting will happen, plays will fall apart, you too will get tagged with a ball in the lower back(ish) area; and when you do, you'll probably be okay with it.
Respect your refs.
Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you are 40, it will look 85. And nobody hits on an 85 year old at the bar, right?
Be careful whose drinks you buy, but thank those who supply yours. Postgame drinks and flip cup are a part of the spirit of the game;
Embrace it.
And trust me, on the cleats.
fact.
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