Having Fun At Whirlyball

It was a wild and crazy afternoon of whirlyball!!!

You say, “Wow!  Really?!?  You guys actually played whirlyball, this afternoon!?!”

Yep.

You say, “Man, that is so cool!  You got to play some WHIRLYBALL, what a thrill!  What a riot!”   ….[pause] “…By the way, what is whirlyball?”

Well, let’s see, how can I explain it?  Think of some elements of basketball, mixed with some elements of hockey.  Now, add in “scoops” which are plastic basket-like handles about a foot long which each player uses to hold or throw the whiffle ball.  (In whirlyball, “scoops” have nothing to do with ice cream.  Drats!)  Got it now?  No?  Well, let me confuse you some more.  Throw this in too: all the players on both teams get around the court in bumper cars.  That’s right, bumper cars, like the kind at the carnival.

If it all sounds a little strange or a little unusual…well, I guess I’d have to admit that it is.  On the other hand, if it sounds fun, that’s DEFINITELY true, too.  We had a ball!

About a dozen youth from our church were accompanied by about 5 energetic, adventurous, lean, sharp, young-at-heart adult helpers (oh, and I was there, too) for two hours of good, clean, sweat-producing, adrenaline pumping, whirlyball fun, this afternoon.

We enjoyed ourselves greatly and, fortunately, no one was hurt.  Oh wait, I take that back.  Actually Lauren’s hand was injured.  (But she’s going to be okay.)

But other than that, no one was hurt.  Oh wait, I take that back.  Johnny T’s bumper car was crashed into hard and he suffered an…(ahem) injury…. well, you see…it’s like this… oh, nevermind, I’m not providing any more details on that one.  It was painful.

But other than that, no one was hurt.  Oh wait, I take that back.  Eric’s car was crashed into and his chest hit the steering stick and it’s been hurting as a result.

But other than that, no one was hurt.  Oh wait, I take that back, we did have the electrocution....

But other than that…. You know what?  …Maybe it would be easier to say it this way.  Everyone was able to walk out of whirlyball on their own two feet.  No one was carried out on a stretcher.  Hey, that’s pretty good, right?

                                                                                                                                            

When you play a casual, laid-back game, entirely for the fun of it, no trophies or championships at stake, with a church youth group—and it’s the first time that anyone has ever encountered the sport, you have a terrific opportunity to find out quickly who are the super-competitive people in your group of friends.  Some of our folks spent a fair amount of time on the court just spinning around in circles in the bumper cars, and seemed to have quite a good time doing so.  While other folks went charging back and forth across the court with ferociousness and tenacity.  Driven.  Relentless.  Bent on winning at all costs.  Taking no prisoners.  Little bits of foam on the corners of their mouths.

You’re probably thinking, “Gee Dan, it’s crazy to get that worked up over a friendly little game.  For crying out loud, there’s no point in it!  Fortunately, as a devout man of God and a reverent and mature disciple of Christ, you probably spent most of the time that you were on the court, simply praying and encouraging the other players, right?”

Um…uh…yeah.  Sure.  Uh huh.  That is correct.  Yep, you got it.  “Prayer” and “encouragement”—I was a model of these two spiritual disciplines.  You betcha!  It’s remarkable, really…if you think about it.

Okay, I have to get going.  I have to make a run to Baskin Robbins.  It’s possible that lightning might be hitting our house, shortly.  And, all that talk about “scoops” has finally gotten the best of me.

P.S.  Many thanks to Paul and Susan Romano for spearheading a really fun event!