Final Reflection

I have had a wonderful time this semester attending different Australian sporting and cultural events. I was not originally enrolled in this course but I am so glad that I decided to add it to my schedule. I was amazed by the vast amount of knowledge I obtained through the various field trips we took. Beginning on my first day in Sydney, I have been bombarded by Australian sports on television. The World Cup of cricket was my first exposure to the Australian sporting world.

I had never seen the game of cricket played and was completely oblivious to any of the rules. Taking this course persuaded me to become interested in a game that I would otherwise have ignored. As the tournament progressed, I was becoming more and more adept to the rules of the game. By the end, I understood how points were scored, how outs were recorded and why the matches last so long. I was swept up in the excitement when India finally won the world cup.

Another sport that I learned more about through this course was rugby. Even back in the states, I had always been interested in the game of rugby. Back at my home institution, Indiana University, I have attended a few of our club team’s rugby matches. Although I never understood the rules, I always had a good time watching the games. By taking this course, I finally learned how the game is played. I also learned about the different variations of rugby including Rugby League and Union. I regularly attend New South Wales Waratahs matches with my roommates and enjoy it so much that I have played rugby in the park with some of my friends.

Attending the field trip to watch the Nippers gave me unique insight into what the world of youth sports is like in Australia. Watching the parents and coaches direct the kids and cheer them along reminded me exactly of my experiences growing up playing youth ice hockey back in St. Louis. Much like the nippers, all of my teammates were kids who I grew up with. Many of the kids were either neighbors or classmates of mine. Playing on a sports team with them was a way for me to see what my contemporaries were like outside of the classroom. Like the Maroubra Beach Surf Lifesaving Club, my local ice rink was run entirely by volunteers. Every one of the coaches volunteers his time and energy to teach us to play hockey. Many times, a parent of one of the children on the team would assume the role of coach. This was reminiscent of the nippers’ practice which looked like it was being organized and directed by a group of parents.

Like club hockey, the nippers seemed very competitive in their races. Even at a young age, all of the kids were trying their best and eager to beat their friends down the beach. I found the competitiveness of kids at that age quite surprising. When I first began playing hockey at age seven, I was more concerned with having a good time with my friends and less with the competitive nature of the sport. I think that being too competitive at a young age can be detrimental to youth athletes. I know that I personally lost interest in the game as I grew older because it was no longer fun to play. If the coaches focus too much on winning and not enough on learning and improving a child’s skills, it can take away from the game. Especially today, when obesity is a major problem, having children who are discouraged from playing a sport because of its competitive nature can be detrimental to their health. Youth sports should be more about staying active and having fun and less about winning.

The lawn bowling field trip was one of the most fun and educational activities I have participated in since I arrived in Australia. I found the game challenging, but after a few bowls I began to get the hang of it. Having played bocce ball with my family previously, the rules and game was familiar to me. However, the weighted ball did throw me off and added an extra challenge to the game. The facility reminded me a lot of the bocce ball club which my grandmother took me to in St. Louis. The entire place was filled with bocce ball courts. The major difference between bocce ball and lawn bowling is the surface it is played on. Bocce ball is played indoors and on a turf like court while lawn bowling is played outdoors on grass. The members at the lawn bowling club also reminded me a lot of the members at the bocce ball club. Most of the participants were older and the club served as much a social as an athletic function.

All of these experiences plus the countless others that I did not have the space to talk about have shaped my opinions on Australian culture. Sport plays such an integral role in Australian society. Star athletes are looked up to as much or more than Australian politicians. Most of the heroes, praised by Australians in their short history as a nation are athletes. I have thoroughly enjoyed gaining exposure into some sports that I would never have had the opportunity to play or watch in the states. I have really gained a greater appreciation for footy and rugby and their place in Australian culture. My experiences here will allow me to expose others to the sports which I have enjoyed so much. I can only hope they can get the same enjoyment from them that I share for these activities.

AFL

Today I went to see the Sydney Swans play the Hawthorn Hawks at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The stadium was far larger than I expected and the number of people who came to see the game surprised me as well. Having seen both Rugby League and Union games, I became accustomed to a stadium that allowed me to move seats several times during the game. The Swans game looked like most of the 46,000 seats were filled leading me to believe that AFL is more popular in Australia than rugby.

Concerning the actual game, Sydney played well in the first half. After the first quarter, the Swans had the lead. However, in the second half the Swans faded and ultimately lost by 46 points, 106-60. The game was fast-paced and I found it more entertaining than Rugby League or Union. The athletes must be incredibly fit in order to be able to run for about 120 plus minutes.

After watching the game today, I decided to learn more about the origins of the AFL. The AFL began as the Victorian Football League but changed its name in 1990 to gain a more national appeal. The league is supported by teams from all over the country of Australia. There are currently seventeen teams in the league but there are no divisions so every team plays each other at least once during the twenty-four round season. “At the end of the twenty-four round season, the top eight teams enter the AFL finals. The AFL finals last four rounds which culminates in the Grand Final” (AFL 2011).

I really enjoyed the atmosphere at the Swans game today. I have gained a much greater appreciation for the game, the players and the fans. The game was incredibly fun and I am sure it is a great way to stay fit. In my last month here, I hope to make it back to another Swans game before I leave for home.

Source: AFL.com.au

Rugby League

While I have already experienced indigenous rugby and Rugby Union, I have yet to see a Rugby League game live. I have watched the game on television a couple of times, but I don’t quite find the game as interesting as Rugby League or AFL. The sport seems much more localized compared to Union since every team but one is concentrated on the Australian mainland. I found it interesting that League has two teams in Sydney while Union only has one team to represent the entire state of New South Wales.

I also think that Rugby League is not quite as fast paced as Union. Before coming to Sydney, I had watched some US Rugby Seven’s matches. I know that it will be a sport in the next Olympics and it was fun to see the United States compete to qualify. I find that Seven’s is far more similar to Rugby Union and AFL and is an incredibly fast paced game.

I did find tracking the history of the NRL to be fascinating. I had no idea that the sport is over 100 years old, or that its history has been marked with such controversy. I find the league’s formation mirrors that of NFL football which was formed by combining two major football conferences. While I have not yet been to a game, I do hope to attend a South Sydney Rabbitohs game before I leave for the semester. If for no other reason than Russell Crowe is a part owner.

Hiking

This past week I went hiking for the first time in my life. My roommates and I decided to take the two hour train ride to Kootumba Falls to see the Blue Mountains. While I do not believe hiking is considered a sport, it definitely fits with the active and outdoorsy culture of Australia. Since I had never hiked before, I was surprised at how difficult and tiring some parts of the climb were. The aptly named ‘Great Stairway’ seemed never ending, but reaching the top of its unrelenting stairs was the most rewarding experience of the trip.

While the trip was more fun than anything, it also was a valuable learning experience. I was able to see some of the natural wonders of Australia, including the Three Sisters and learn some interesting facts about the plants and wildlife found in the forest. However, the most valuable lesson I learned that day was the importance of a map to guide my way. Without a printed guide, I have no doubt my friends and I would have lost our way in the vast Mountains. Coming prepared with a trail guide was vital, and helped us find our way back to the path when we strayed from it several times.

The only downside of our trip was the weather. Because of the rain and dense fog we were not able to see all that the Blue Mountains had to offer. However, the experience was so enjoyable, even in the rain that we plan to go back and see what we missed on a sunny day later this month.

Netball

This Monday I went to my first netball game between the NSW Swifts and the Northern Mystics at Sydney Olympic Park. While I found the game interesting, I would probably not go to see another game. I did not find netball as entertaining as American basketball. In basketball, it is much easier to play defense and to force turnovers where in netball this is almost impossible. Another thing that turned me off was that jumping and blocking shots was very rare. In pretty much every scoring play, the offensive team would get very close to the hoop before they shot. In basketball, it is much more difficult to score near the hoop and there is much more strategy involved in basketball to try and get players open for a shot. You almost never see a team make more than 80 percent of their shots like the visiting Mystics did on Monday.

I was, however, pleasantly surprised at how many people actually came to the game. I didn’t expect many people to be at the game, being that netball is not a very popular sport, but the fans’ enthusiasm and energy was quite strong. It made the game, which I was not really that fond of, much more fun. Overall, I can see why the game is played in schools; it is a great way for people to stay active and fit. I also understand why the game has yet to garner the popularity of many of the major Australian sports; there simply is not enough action.

Indigenous Rugby

After watching the indigenous rugby teams, Moore Park and Redfern, play last Sunday I was inspired to learn more about the history of the sport from an aboriginal perspective. I know from going to Rugby League and Union games that indigenous players are an integral source of talent for the sport.

The first aboriginal player to play Rugby League for Australia was Lloyd McDermott in 1962. During this time, racial discrimination was still prevalent and McDermott would be the only black player to play professional rugby for some time. Before McDermott, it was difficult to stir up interest for the game in indigenous communities because there were no youth programs that introduced the sport to these children.

The Lloyd McDermott Aboriginal Foundation has come a long way in terms of bringing rugby to indigenous youth. They have formed a development team that exposes kids to the game and have even formed competitive teams and leagues that travel around the world to compete.

The AFL and Rugby League have also come to realize the potential that many aboriginal players have, and have invested millions into these communities to try and develop future talent. From what I have read thus far, Australia has come a long way in terms of embracing aboriginal rugby players. Interest in rugby seems to be continuing to grow in indigenous communities, which undoubtedly makes for a more vibrant and prosperous sport in Australia. I can only hope that many of the programs established to further the sport in aboriginal circles continue to expand in size and scope, and that any child who wants to play the sport is afforded the opportunity.

Sources: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/rugby-failing-indigenous-players/story-e6frg7mf-1225881561235

http://www.rugby.com.au/lloyd_mcdermott/lloyd_mcdermott_home,122152.html

Tennis

Ever since I was eight years old, I have played the sport of tennis. It is probably the sport I am most passionate about and I play at least three times a week. I play on my club tennis team back home at Indiana University as well as teaching back in my hometown of Saint Louis, Missouri. I have even brought my racket with me abroad and continue to play here at the University of Sydney with the tennis club.

Through my teaching and playing, I have now played on every tennis court surface. I have played on carpet, hard court and clay and have learned to adjust my play to the distinct playing style that each surface offers. Until I arrived in Australia, I had never even seen, let alone played on a grass court. However, through the tennis club, I was able to get my first taste of tennis on grass at the Manning Courts. The ball travels very fast as opposed to carpet or clay, both of which slows the ball down and allow for much more spin. While I am glad I finally got to play on grass, clay courts suit my game much better.

Teaching tennis back home has given me a lot greater appreciation for the game. Helping to run a camp of more than fifty children has allowed me to develop valuable communication and organizational skills that will be useful in a future career in the corporate world. But this is not the only benefit I get from teaching. Seeing the children I teach have fun, and improve their tennis skills at the same time makes what I do worthwhile. I hope that I can continue to bring the game of tennis to future generations and help them experience the same joy I feel when playing.