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One Tribe
by Stanley Abell
Several Monday’s ago I was sifting through my email and a brief response to a group email caught my attention. It was a short, simple reframing of an old African proverb… more on the proverb in a second.
The group email was among the parents, supporters and coaches of the Washington Township Football League 4th Grade All-Star Team. The emails were in response to a weekend tournament where our boys beat one of the best teams in the area not once, but twice to win a prestigious football tournament.
Truly, this alone is reason to celebrate. The Wednesday prior to the weekend tournament, the boys had lost their first game at home to a team they should have beat. However, it was cold and rainy and the team, coaches and parents really didn’t know what to expect of each other.
This group of kids, coaches and parents was put together from 9 different teams throughout the township. Consequently, the kids, coaches, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles of the team didn’t know each other very well. In fact, what we did know about each other was from competing AGAINST one another.
That first game on Wednesday probably showed that a little. There was a lot of supporting “my son,” instead of “our team.” Somehow though, that all changed in the course of about 4 days. Something magical and unmistakable occurred that has made for a really meaningful experience for all of these families and participants.
In the first game of the tournament our team was down 8-7 with just a minute, thirty seconds left in the game. We were at our own 15-yard line facing one of the best teams in the area for boys this age. One completed pass brought the crowd to life… still hope from the 25-yard line. Two plays later with :8 seconds left in the game, a perfect pass, a perfect catch and a mad dash to the end zone… TOUCHDOWN! Victory.
Okay, I know this is only 4th grade football we’re talking about, but there was a palpable tectonic shift on that play. For the team in that moment, there was belief in one another and the building of self-confidence that was the catalyst for reeling off 6 straight wins. For those who had come to watch, there was a sense of excitement of wanting to be part of something really exciting… a sense of coming together for a common cause bigger than ourselves. For the township, there was a sense of taking first steps at a pretty daunting goal… building a program from the ground up.
The email response that caught my attention was very simply… “It takes a village.” The response was from a single mother who was very thankful to some other parents who had been able to help with transportation for her son because of her busy work schedule. I believe that sentiment is at the heart of the tectonic shift we experienced a few weekends ago. I can’t speak for others, but my sense is that we did put the foundation down for the village square.
Beginning to thank people for this experience is like winning an academy award… it will take too long, and you are going to miss somebody really important. Nonetheless, thanks to WTFL, directors, coaches, parents and extended family. Thanks to Washington Township for your commitment to diversity and excellence. Most of all, thanks to the boys who made this commitment… you have done yourselves, families and community proud.
Watch the video at http://www.thebluevinecollective.org/2011/12/06/one-tribe/
