Reminded

So how did Calgary go?

There were a total of 10 teams in the B division. During pool play on Friday, we played each of the other teams once -- each time a single game to 25 points. We ended up having some good games, some bad games, and some downright ugly games. One of the disadvantages of being a team that's never played together is that you never know how you and your teammates will react in pressure situations. You know what I mean -- when you're playing well and in the lead, things are rosy and playful, bright and fun. Then you lose a string of points, and things turn on a dime. Pressure mounts, energy levels drop, criticism creeps in, tempers flare.

As the team captain, you do everything you can to turn those episodes around. You keep things talkative, you make sure to maintain eye contact with your teammates between points, you let a struggling teammate know that he's still playing well by doing a lot of slapping of the hands, you lead by example as best you can. But I have to admit that there were times when I didn't feel like putting myself out there for everyone on my team -- when I didn't feel as invested as I had been when playing with a team that I felt really connected with; when I let thoughts creep in like, "He's the one in the funk, so I'm not going to spend my energy in a futile attempt to get him engaged again." And that, my friends, is very un-captain-like behaviour, so shame on me. In the end, there were some frustrations but we all just did the best we could to deal with them.

After Friday's pool play, we had a record of 4 wins and 5 losses, which we figured would put us right near the middle of the pack. The 10 teams were ranked according to their won-loss records and, sure enough, we were seeded sixth. The 10 teams were split into two divisions -- High B division, and Low B division. The good news was that our sixth place seeding meant that we were the top seeds in the Low B division, and that we would have some close matches in medal play -- with a chance to take home some hardware after it was all over!

Saturday's playoffs were double-elimination format, with matches consisting of the best of three games, and with each team in contention until they incur two match losses. To make a long story -- and a long day -- short, we ended up going undefeated and won the gold medal in Low B. Withstanding some patchy play, some on-court (well, off-court as well) tension, and a near-disastrous injury in our final match, we ended up as the champs. And, perhaps most importantly, one of our team members won the "Shut Up and Sleep With Me!" award, voted on by members of all competing teams! I guess it pays to be cute, skinny, and 22 years of age : )

So Calgary ended with the Bus Drivers driving home the gold medal. And with me reminded of the dynamics of team play.