Mackenzie Duffner
September 20, 2014 at 4:00pm
Redwood City Parks and Rec
I used my PACT opportunity to coach a 7th grade girls volleyball team for Selby Lane. Everyone of the kids at Selby Lane is eligible for free lunch. Redwood City Parks and Rec strives to provide kids from all backgrounds a chance to learn life skills in a sports or outdoor activity. On my first day I was walking into Red Morton Community center trying to figure out how I would get 12 year old girls to respect me. Girls started trickling in wearing flats and uggs and no knee pads. I realized these girls might not have the equipment because unlike so many of us their parents cannot spare the $15 of knee pads that will only be used for a few months. I knew at that point I would have to begin at the very beginning. The girls came in exhibiting a mixture of anticipation and fear. Once I called everyone around me they all stopped talking and looked at me. It was humbling knowing that they already respected me. None of them had played but they all wanted to learn so bad. They glowed with pride when I praised them. I realized in these first couple of practices that they wanted so badly to be good and to be worthy of praise and they just needed the opportunity. I remember doing a passing drill where all the girls were in a straight line and I would throw the ball at the first girl then she would shag her ball and get back in line. Mariana for the life of her could not seem to get behind the ball. Eventually I gave her a nice easy slow pass and she got right behind it and hit it with all she could. I praised her and the girls clapped and screamed. Mariana blushed but was so delighted by this and she continued to be one of the hardest workers. These 12 year old girls were so brave because they came from poor families having no knowledge of the sport or the right equipment but still dedicated themselves to learning.
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