A Football Story

I have a bit of news that I've been holding back. Mainly because I wasn't sure if it was going to fly nor how I really felt about it. Olivia is on the high school football team! She's talked about it ever since she started high school and she's a junior this year. I figured she was just wishing for the good old days over at Mountville. Not so. She was just biding her time, I guess. They really gave her the run around. When she went to sign up and weigh in, the coaches ran her from this person to that person to the trainer, etc.

Then, because of the concussion she sustained playing rugby months ago, they insisted she have something called an Impact Test. Another bit of running from pillar to post. The school was supposed to be giving it but their computers were down this week. When they came back up, the Impact software wasn't re-installed. Or something like that. ITM, mandatory practice started this past Monday. 8am-6:30pm. The kids had to be there or get kicked off the team. Olivia wasn't allowed to even run laps until the coach got the results of the test. She couldn't do anything but sit on the bench all day. In the heat. As the week wore on, she got more and more frustrated. She wasn't allowed to leave. I would have lost it long before she did. I am glad that the test was required. It tells me that the schools are concerned about the kids's welfare a bit. Probably to stave off lawsuits, but whatever works is fine with me.

The upshot was that Phyllis took her to Elizabethtown Thursday afternoon. Apparently, the test is give on the computer and tests memory. It took about 15 minutes. Then, it was a matter of getting the info faxed to the neurologist in York. She, in turn had to fax it to Olivia's regular doctor. Who, then, had to sign off on it and fax it over to the trainer at the high school. You can all imagine how fast these various people got it going. Phyllis had to keep calling this place and that to have it done. If she hadn't, it would still be languishing in somebody's TBR stack.

Olivia called me from the school yesterday in tears. She wanted me to come get her. The coach said it was alright for her to go and get the test paper signings taken care of. I picked her up around 10am. She didn't want to talk so I left her alone. The neurologist didn't even get in till noon. After the paper work was moving thru the system, Phyllis took her back to the field in time for team pictures and an ice cream social. Phyllis said she ran into a lot of people from the Mountville days.

There is a scrimmage today. I didn't go as I know O wasn't going to be playing. No practice, after all. But she's suited up and sitting on the bench. I guess she's a happy camper. Phyllis went. She's bringing me some chicken barbecue from the sale they are having after the scrimmage. The weather is fantastic. Not too hot nor humid. Hope it holds as we are off to see the Barnstormers baseball team play tomorrow at Clipper stadium. I could use a good baseball game.

There you have it. I'm proud of Olivia for sticking it out all week. And for putting up with some of the petty stuff the coach (es) do. Like forgetting to unlock the women's restroom each day. Sheesh. Phyllis found out this morning that one of Olivia's softball buddies is the kicker for the Columbia High School team this fall. I am woman, hear me roar!

And, yes, Olivia knows that she has to do 10 times better than any of the boys. Cross all the T's and dot all the I's so to speak. She's prepared. We'll see how the season goes. Guess I'll be warming a stadium bleacher after a bit.