Many years ago, during a school Inter-House cricket match involving boys who were not regular cricketers, the fast bowler ran in and bowled a ball that went full toss and hit the batter on the head (in the days before helmets were used). It hit him so hard that he fell over unconscious for a few moments and onto the wicket, at which point one of the fielding team ran in from his position shouting, not exactly graciously, “You’re out! You’re out!” He was, of course, correct, twice over, as the batter was knocked out and he was bowled out.
Cricket is, as most readers of these articles will know, divided up into overs, whereby the bowler bowls six deliveries (unless he bowls any of them incorrectly, with a ‘wide’ or a ‘no ball’) before another bowler takes over from the other end and bowls his six deliveries. There is a certain amount allocated at each juncture. When the six balls have been bowled, that unit is over; it is finished. Everything is measured in overs.
When we think of the word ‘over’ and the name Lance Armstrong, the seven-times winner (consecutively) of the grueling three-week Tour de France cycling race, we may well wish to reflect that his career was over when it was discovered, firstly that he lied, when accused of cheating, and secondly that he cheated, had gone over the top, by using performance-enhancing drugs in order to achieve that goal. He was eventually found out and certainly was forced out. Interestingly, though, prior to being exposed as a cheat, he was quoted as saying that “the problem is that we over-celebrate when we win and we over-react when we lose”. We overdo things, in sport especially.
In previous articles we have reflected on comments made by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the world record holder and consistent gold medal winner in the 400 metres hurdles (and 400 metres flat), firstly, that “the greatest ability is availability” and secondly, that she ran because she loved it. Her success in winning gold medals can be attributed to both such qualities. However, she also revealed in this quote another key component that we do well to remember when considering sport in our schools, which echoes Lance Armstrong’s comment: “I think in the past we’ve had moments where we’ve gotten, you know, a little greedy in trying to dip our hand into too many things. We’ve definitely learnt to be wise, be smart, be decisive and not overdo it.” We must not overdo things.
Those four qualities are not different ones but rather the first three lead directly to the fourth. We need to be wise (understanding life in perspective); we need to be smart (clever in not falling for attractive alternative options); we need to be decisive (be bold in making clear distinctions and decisions) and by doing all of that we will not overdo things. Overdoing things is represented there by being “greedy” and “trying to dip our hand into too many things”. What she heralds and what she exemplifies, is having both a steady balance in her life and a clear perspective of her gifts.
The clear goal of all of us involved in some way coaching sport to children is to ensure they have a balanced view of sport and a balanced diet of sport. So much of sport is about balance; balance is critical for the right shot, pass, throw to be executed well. It follows therefore that balance is essential when it comes to all aspects of sport – and life. There needs to be the balance between learning and having fun, between winning and losing, between practice and fixtures, between competition and collaboration (as there are eating disorders, so there are competing disorders). There needs to be balance between academics and sport too, between home and school.
Furthermore, alongside that balance, there must be perspective, which in truth is simply balancing what we see close up and what we find far away, in time and distance. We must have perspective that both the problems and the praise will pass (but not let the opportunity pass). Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone found that perspective, that purpose, that balance – and did extremely well.
Understanding the need not to overdo things is long overdue. There is a time (and place) for each activity, just as there are a set number of balls in an over. If we do overdo things, we will be out – over and out, that is the reality. We will be told “You’re out! You’re out!” Gone. Finished. No more. After all, the sportswear slogan does not say “Just Overdo It”. So now it is over to you. Over and out.