T+44: Bloody Minded Determination

Kay simply amazes me. Although she's somewhat better since the change of NG feed, she remains very weak and tired. However, today was selection training for next season's hockey team formation and Kay was determined to take part. She wants to make sure that she gets put in a team together with her teammates from this season, who are a pretty competitive and skillful bunch. She felt that if she did not take part she'd end up ranked lower than her current teammates.

We told her that this wasn't so, that everyone knows that she's a good player and that no one expected her to take part in the selection training. But we could not change her mind. So we agreed with her that she could go, but that simply showing her face would probably be enough since it would indicate to the selectors that she has the Right Stuff to play at a higher level. We also said that there were rules and that if we felt at any time that she was pushing herself too hard, she would have to accept our instruction to stop.

So this morning she was dressed in her kit and down on the field at 10am, in the blazing heat of a lovely May day. Everyone was surprised and pleased to see her and she received assurances that even if she didn't take part in the selection she would not be overlooked. But still, that wasn't enough for her. She insisted that she be given a place and she took part in the initial briefing. When the girls were told to take a run round the field to warm up, Kay attempted to run too. But I could instantly see that there was no chance at all that she could keep up and after a quarter circuit of the field I called her back. She was absolutely exhausted, pale and could not get her breath. So I sat on the floor with her between my legs and calmed her down and reassured her that it was OK. 

The first exercise that the girls were given was simple ball control, knocking the ball backwards and forwards to each other in pairs. Kay decided that she was going to have a go at this too. Since it didn't involve any running, I let her go. She knocked the ball around for a while with her partner but again soon ran out of puff. So we called it quits and she came a sat down with me again to watch the reminder of the training. 

I think that she made her point pretty clearly and I'm sure that she won't be overlooked. But we learned today just how much condition she has lost and how much effort it will take to build it up again. But this is a challenge for which I'm ready. I just need to work out a training program with her physio and then we can set to and make sure that she's ready for next season.

What a wonderful child.