Sports Day Little Irritation

19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

James 1:19-20

Hallejuyah!! Wow, this verse on the "verse of the day" is so timely for me today.



Incident:


My girl runner fall just before the finishing line to lose her Gold medal. Other than minor scratches, she sprained her left wrist, which swell. First aid is given, ice compression is given.


Then, the first aid teacher came to tell me that she should not run anymore for the inter-cca race for her safety, in case, if she fall again, it may worsen the wrist, stating that they do not know if there is a facture in the wrist. To me, it is my intention for her to run for the track team in the inter CCA relay. If she run, it will give the track team the best chance of winning and it is also her last year in school, she will graduate this year. It is her last chance to run for the team and win the gold medal.

After discussion with her, she wants to run. I spoke to the parent to explain the situation and the parent gave the go ahead and even asked if she use her hands to run or her legs to run?? she only hurted her wrist, but still can use the legs to run. (When the parent said like this, it really feel abit foolish to call her in the first place. But it is a must for teacher to make that courteous call.)

Then I called for the bandage to hold the wrist together so that she can run. Then the same first teacher talked about:

1) Safety - what if there is a fracture inside?? It is not a fracture ( I also have first aid knowledge), if it is a real fracture, she will still be in constant pain and it will not swell. (What kind of first aid team is this??) My girl runner cannot move her fingers, of course, because the tendons, nerves and muscles to move the fingers pass through the wrist. And if the wrist is hurt, the person may not be able to move the fingers.

2) Take responsibility - who is going to take the responsiblity?? Ya Ya, at the end of the day, she do not want to take responsibility, asking if I want to take the responsibility. (I totally understand that she is also trying to protect me) I do not mind taking calculated risk, like what I have done like checking with the parents.

3) What if she falls again and worsen the wrist?? Then what if she walks home, fall and worsen the wrist?? Then it will not be our responsibility, is it?? Accidents will still happen whether you like it or not. If it is the will of GOD for a situation to happen, we, humans, are so weak that we cannot avoid it or prevent it. Why be so pessimistic?? Look on the bright side of things.

4) If the same thing happens on her child, she will not want her child to run. I think it is only a matter of perspective. First, I will not mind if my son (or child) continue, because I also want him to develop a certain amount of resilent. When I played water-polo for my school, our team has a understanding that even if our both legs cramped during a match and no chance for substitution, we will continue to play and swim hard, because if we stop, we will affect our game and let down our team mates. Second, as I have said I lost two national inter school medals, I do not want to disappoint my son (It is his decision, if he decides to do it, he will put his mind to it.) Through my swimming "career", I have seen Kenneth Goh (our national swimmer) cried after a race, which he won gold medal. Later, I found out that he cried because he missed the record timing by spilt seconds. WOW!!! That is the mentality of a champion. Winning is not enough, but to win well.

A HOD (he) was beside us all this while, of course, I did not argue like this, but he noticed that I was about to lose my temper (Yes, I admit I am pretty pissed) I mentioned that I lost two national inter school medals because some doctor said that the troat virus could attack my heart if I swim (compete). I have carried that disappointment for many years and I wished help her to at least a relay gold medal as it is her last year in school and want her to live to regret.

Then he mentioned that my role is not only to be a coach, but also a teacher. Teacher has to think for the well being of the pupil. (To me, it seems more like the well-being of the school, scared complain??) I will not push my runners more than they can bear. I have been with them for four to five years, do I not know them better??

He also mentioned that I could have made that decision based my past experience. Yes, of course, different people have different life experiences, which affect the choices and decisions that we made. Of course, I am not totally without fault too.

But I do not want to disappoint my runners too. That is why they want to run for me. And when they fail, they always say sorry to me, even if I know there is no need to. I know their disappointment to themselves will be greater than their disappointment to me. Reflecting on my way home, have I set a standard too high??

Resolution:

Seeing that I also got a "lecture", she decided not to run. If she does not want (badly enough), there is no point arguing anymore. But in the first place, a senior teacher said before, a pupil is only here for four years, but colleagues are in the same school for time longer than that so try not to argue over a pupil.

Praise GOD that He reminded me to calm down when the feeling comes up.

And of course, the track team still won gold. Hahahaha!!!!

Follow up in the evening:

She got a half cast and she is fine without the medal. (Chay, what for argue in the first place!!!)

A personal thought, has our society gone soft?? Or has our school system become so afraid of parent complain?? What if the parent complain why the school refuse to let her daughter run, causing her to have mental disappointment??


Personally, I will want to live a moment of glory, then to live a life of disappointment and regret. If my life is meant to be short, but meaningful, then so be it, then to live a long life of regret.




Did I mention that I went for water polo training, even with a muscle tear on my shoulder???