I could say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
But it would be more appropriate to say the ball doesn't land far from the goal posts or something footballish at least.
Certainly I couldn't help but draw parallels as I watched my six-year-old grandson kicking a football around the home of the Bombers at Swoosh field, at Alexandra Hills on a recent chilly Saturday morning. He swims with the Sharks and was there to play a match against his father's old team on a stomping ground that is now barely recognisable.
When my three sons kicked a bit of dust (and not that many balls) around that particular field, there was essentially the field and a shed and a willing group of parents keen for their sons to sport the blue and red.
I never thought then and I shake my head to think now that I would ever come back to cheer and offer the odd suggestion from the sideline. Not that I have much more of a clue than my grandson does about where the ball should go at any particular moment.
I know there is some sort of spectator protocol but encouraging a boy to run and kick the ball, or at least to look at or for the ball doesn't seem entirely out of place. Because, similar to his father, who I noticed was looking elsewhere at the time, said grandson seemed to be rather engaged with the goalpost itself, clinging onto it rather than spreading his arm in defence as yet another ball sailed through from the opposing team.
His skill seemed to escalate when it came to getting the goals or at least running towards the goal post. At the end of a bit of a sprint (Okay he skipped through the field, as if it was filled with daisies), he would then stop and you could hear his internal dialogue of 'stop, drop, kick' as he lined up the ball. This he would send wide left and it was anyone's game from there.
We returned for another match on an equally cold Saturday and I was proud to see his progress as he dodged and weaved and even tackled occasionally, arms spread wide in defence, face determined to kick that goal.
The Shark was swimming with the big fish now.
- Linda Muller