Team Spirit… Honey Badgers RULE!
The Honey Badgers are the BCYSA’s (Bay County Youth Sports Association) U15 girl soccer team. U15 stands for under 15 years old. Their coach, Adam Roed, invited me to see them play at a tournament in Panama City Beach and I was truly surprised by the dimensions this tournament had. Having trouble finding the right field, I must have passed at least two dozen teams. The Honey Badgers were well into the game when I got there. I was greeted with interest but not as much interest as would justify taking their eyes off the field. Some of the team members were sitting on the sidelines and waiting their turn, literally chewing their fingernails off, watching their teammates in the game.
Coach Adam Roed was similarly absorbed in the game and I was clearly not coming at the right time to ask my questions. Even as a bystander, I immediately had a sense of urgency and could feel the team’s adrenaline pumping. This was more serious than anticipated. Admittedly, I was expecting to come to the game and see some very cute girls kicking a ball and look just adorable… but what I got was total excitement. Theirs and mine. The girls are adorable all right but their game was more than that. The right word for their game is suspenseful. The right words for the girls; motivated and dedicated. They won 2nd place at this tournament which is still a major achievement because their opponents were older U16 players.
I followed up with an interview during training at H. G. Harders Field a couple of weeks later. The team was practicing, and one of the girls, Alex Sherman, had been designated to answer my questions. She was not supposed to play that day as she had injured her leg a few days before. But she was here at practice nonetheless. Alex attends Bay High School and joining the BCYSA is an activity outside of school. She plays center court and started playing soccer when she was 4 years old, she tells us and explains: “Among my friends it is very popular to play soccer. I fi nd center court is the most fun position but tough – you have to rely on the people behind you.” When
asked if winning is important, she says: “Winning is fun but not most important. Loosing is not so bad if your game was well thought out and you gave your best.“ I ask how she gets along with coach Roed and she replies “He is the 5th coach I have been training with and younger than the others and he teaches us to be organized and play zones more than one on one – he taught us to be disciplined. But he also brings fun to the game instead of just giving instructions. The regular training consists of running, skill training and technique and we learn a lot of set piece work.”
And what are her ambitions for the future? “I want to become a doctor, and it is my dream to continue playing soccer while in high school and college. I am looking to either go to University of Florida or Vanderbilt University, if I can get in.”
Does she do any other sports, I ask. “Yes, my parents like it that I am physically active. I also play volleyball, basketball and run track and my parents support it as long as it does not interfere with school. We have been traveling to tournaments on the weekends.”
After practice I get to ask the team some of the same questions and get similar answers. Most of them go to Middle School: Merritt Brown, Bay Haven, North Bay Haven, or Mowat. What do they like best about playing on the team, I ask everyone. “We are really like family. We watch out for each other.” is the response I get. And what would they tell newcomers to the sport? “Give it a try. You don’t have to be good, just willing to try and be determined.” And why do you call your team the Honey Badgers? ”Savannah Richardson came up with the name – because the Honey Badger is the most fearless creature.”
Savannah’s mom, Nikki Richardson, who has been with BCYSA for seven years, is the registrar for the league and keeps everyone organized and in line. “My now 20 year old daughter started out playing soccer seven years ago and while she is not playing anymore now, Savannah, my youngest daughter got old enough.” If there are downsides, I ask her. “Sometimes the parents get very involved and in my experience I can say that we all want our child to be the best but in the end we need to let the players play the game and not confuse them by trying to interfere with the coach. Adam has been awesome to work with. He has been patient and takes the girls seriously and does not shout and holler at them.”
Jade Ullman has been playing for a long time also and another spectator tells me that she is really good with her speed and foot skills and plays center forward. She tells us that she has played since she was three years old and has two younger brothers who she is teaching soccer. Her eyes are set on a soccer scholarship in North or South Carolina. While I was watching the game I could see what the others were talking about. Jade is confi dent and dominates the game, and she plays fair.
The Honey Badgers are playing with initiative, enthusiasm and dedication and their game is daring. Watching them play, I am truly getting the meaning of the word team. And it seems this team is preparing the girls for life and gives them a good understanding of their possibilities and yes, there is certain fearlessness about them.
Just before this article is getting printed, the summer season for the Honey Badgers has come to an end and Nikki Richardson updates us on the stats: “The BCYSA Select U15 Girls Team had a winning fi rst season. They went to four tournaments and came home with the following medals: Endless Summer Tournament (2nd place), Beat The Heat Tournament (2nd place), Florabama Tournament (1st place and Blue Angels Classic Tournament (2nd place). The team is currently ranked #33 in Florida and #428 nationally.
Nikki Richardson adds: “Tryouts for the BCYSA Select Teams for Spring 2014 will be in late January 2014. They are hoping to continue growing the league and invite all players to join this outstanding group of talented girls and boys teams”.
By Val Schoger, Photography by Mark Hendrick