Lunchtime soccer

[khiemtran]

So, today I played in the regular lunchtime soccer game at work, for the first time since my back injury (which, ironically, first appeared over a year ago after another lunchtime soccer game).

There were a few obstacles to get past to make this happen...


First, obviously, I had to recover from the back injury. That took around nine months. Then I had to build up my fitness and especially my running again, to a point where I now consider a half marathon as my weekly "long" run.

Next, I had a new problem. In the meantime, I had moved offices and there was no regular lunchtime soccer game at the new campus. I would therefore have to start one.

Next followed a series of challenges which will probably be instantly familiar to People Who Get Things Done, because they are all an integral part of actually Getting Things Done. There were people who wanted to impose constraints that would incidentally ensure failure (for example, wanting to keep the game just for our company's staff, even though we didn't have enough of a critical mass to get things started); the people who wanted to help, but had no time to contribute; the hoops to jump through to book a pitch and coordinate things with our building managers; the problem of raising enough people across the many businesses on our campus to ensure that we had enough players for our first game. It meant braving the risk of humiliation if, after all that, no-one actually turned up.

Then, when all was set, I had to also solve the problem of finding the right equipment, including an inflated ball, after it turned out that the soccer balls I did have were all flat and I broke my neighbour's pump trying to inflate them. (This turned out to be crucial as the workmate who said he was going to bring his own ball, turned out not to. Luckily we didn't end up all standing around with nothing to kick.)

Finally, on the day itself, I had to recover sufficiently from the cough I'd been battling to be able to take to the pitch as well. Initially I just thought I'd play as goalie, but I soon found I was able to run at least a little (and most importantly, escaped uninjured).

And, after all that, the game was a great success. It turned out that there were lots of people on the new campus who loved the idea of a regular game and who were only too happy come and play. New friends were made and contacts exchanged. The building manager was very supportive and glad to have another way to build up the atmosphere at the new site. We now have a regular game that will kick off every Thursday. And I have recovered what I had lost.

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

That all sounds very positive, especially the fact that you have plenty of people keen to join in. I hope it soon becomes a permanent feature of your work place.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, that would be nice. Our new office is in a new technology park that's pleasantly located (by the sea!) but also just a bit sterile due to the number of empty buildings and the lack of a community vibe. Hopefully this will be one step towards changing that.

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

Sounds like an all-round good experience - may there be many more games.

And in the absence of a ball, you can always fall back on a tin can...

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

True, but it wouldn't have said much for my organizational skills...

[carl-allery.livejournal.com]

Well done. Glad you managed to get it all sorted and double well done for avoiding injury! :)

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was especially glad about the last bit!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

You are a brave (foolhardy)? fellow, climbing back on the horse that threw you. ;) Yes, let's go with brave and persistent, shall we?

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll take "persistent"...

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Wow, I can't tell you how impressed I am, not only with your organizational abilities and perseverance, seeing this through to the end, but also with how incisively you identify those types of obstacles people throw up in the way of success. I think the one that I find most annoying are the people who say they want to help but in fact never have time. I understand that their promise of help often--maybe almost always--arises from a genuine interest in being involved, and that they really would, in an ideal world, like to help, but the fact that they in fact can't or won't makes the promise frustrating. And if you could immediately tell whose promise would actually result in help and who would in fact never have time, it would be one thing, but you can't. And sometimes a person who in fact will be someone you can count on has a bad day--they come down with bubonic plague or are bitten by a rabid dog--so they have to disappoint you on occasion, even though normally/usually they'd help.

... And you'd think from that crazed rant that I'd tried to organize tons of things, but not really. Just a few. But I've seen what happens when other people do.

Anyway, all's well that ends well! That's great that you've got lunchtime soccer going!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, I guess one of the big things was that, in the end, there were lots of people who were actually really keen to have a soccer game but they just needed the initial barriers to be taken down first. And sometimes a relatively tiny barrier can hold back lots and lots of enthusiasm.