ASIJ High School Football

日本のアメリカンスクールのフットボール

 

When Jonah came home from school and told me he planned to play football,  my automatic reaction as a mother was concern.  But then I realized that, as the smallest kid on the Junior Varsity team, he'd have to try very hard, the practices would be good for fitness, and then there's the camaraderie of belonging to the team.  Well, Saturday was the last game, and it has been an excellent season for Jonah.  As it turns out, this football season has been great for the whole family.  ところで、日本語は下に書きます。

During our many years at ASIJ (American School In Japan), we've attended many sporting events, plays, musical concerts, and basically any event that the kids were involved or interested in.  We've watched a few football games over the years, but this is the first time that we've gone to almost every game, even those that were away at military bases.  We'd go to watch Jonah's games, the High School Junior Varsity team, and then we'd stay for the Varsity games which were always very exciting.  As I sat in the stands, cheering for our team, I enjoyed mingling with the other parents.  The Team Moms, Kelli and Lisa, each gave me a program, so I could look at the jersey number and know the players names, most of whom I know as friends and classmates of Jonah and Monica.

Some of the boys on each team are exceptional athletes, it is such a pleasure to watch them perform, running, catching, throwing, kicking, blocking and tackling. A few are so aware, it's quite amazing to see them look around at the other players on the field and understand exactly what they need to do.  I think this is a characteristic that will serve them well in life, no matter what they do.  Some are not exceptional, but are trying very hard to do their best, getting better every time.  The coaches have the respect of all the players and parents as they consistently work the students hard in practice, but they are fair and kind.  Jonah learned so much during football practice from the coaches and other players, and I was impressed by his organization and responsibility, even down to taking care of his equipment, watching his nutrition and sleep, and making sure that his jersey got washed.

The players from the other teams were also admirable, even though they hardly ever beat us.  Most are from military bases, but we also played some Japanese High Schools, in fact, last weekend, the JV played two Japanese HS's at once, that's why there are three different colored jerseys on the field.  The cheerleaders were always fun to watch, they really take their role seriously but with a smile, and you could see their skill progressing through the season.  Every home game, two students from ASIJ would sing the National anthems, first the Japanese one, then the American one, while everyone stood silent and respectful.  One of the Varsity parents announced the games, he sounds very professional.  Of course, there are many other unsung heroes, such as the officials of ASIJ who had to make the very difficult decision of forfeiting a distant away game during the flu season.  It was disappointing, but surely the right decision.

Monica fully supported the team as a student athletic training.  Besides games, she would usually attend practices during the week after school to help Iku with taping, icing, and stretching the players and all manner of injury prevention and care.  Iku is quite a role model for Monica and the other trainers, this is such a good opportunity to be exposed to the medical field while still in High School, and she appreciates it very much.

Martin had a wonderful time during the games.  He attended as many as he could with his busy travel schedule, and took hundreds of photos.  After each game, he would rush home to his computer and spend many hours going through the photos, discarding the blurry and duplicate ones, cropping a few, and then would put them on my photo sharing site for all the parents and players to see as soon as possible.  Martin's hobby is action photography, and football is an excellent chance to practice and improve this skill.  Actually, he's an advanced propulsion engineer, working in the automotive industry, but with things the way they are in that field, he needs to keep his options open. 

Saturday, November 7th was the end of the season, the photos from those games are here:

  JUNIOR VARSITY       and   VARSITY

If you missed them, photos from the other games are here in this folder:     

ASIJ FOOTBALL 2009 Season   

Martin's  Pro Photography Site is here: PIXBYMARTIN.COM   

今度、全体のブログを日本語で書けないので、これは要約です。 ジョナは初めてアメリカンフットボールを遊びました。彼はチームの中に一番小さい人だから、私は心配でした。でも彼はとてもよかったです。毎日学校の後に練習をした、いつもがんばりました。練習から強くなったので、チームの関係から、友情はよかったです。家族もフットボールを楽しかったです。

８年間に、ASIJと参加したけれど、今年は初めてたくさんフットボールの試合に見に行きました。時々調布であるので、時々軍の基地に見に行きました。  ジョナはJVので、高校の若いチームです。そして、JVの試合後に、Varsityの試合を見ます。Varsityの選手は１１～１２年生だので、その試合はもっと興奮させる。私は他の両親と見て、いつも面白いです。選手のジャーシーの何番を見て、紙は名前を分かります。その人人はモニカのジョナの仲間だから、知っています。

いくつ選手は上手なスポーツマンだので、みなはがんばります。試合を遊びながら、いろいろ手腕を使って、毎週だんだんよくなります。二つチームがあるので、４人コーチがあります。選手はコーチに尊敬します。練習、試合、ジョナはたくさんいいことを貰いました。自制とか、頭の中が整理させたとか、 自分の物のため信頼できったもなります。

チアリーダーもがんばります。愛学校心は大会です。いつも、試合前に生徒は日本の国家を歌います。それ後に、アメリカンの国家を歌います。皆は立って、静かなって、敬意を表します。いろいろも手伝い人はあります。 いくさんは学校のスポーツトレーナだので、モニカはいつも彼女を手伝います。いくさんは鼓舞させる人から、モニカは医者のようになりたいです。モニカと他の学生のスポーツトレーナは選手にいろいろスポートをしました。仕事はときどき大変だけど、モニカはよく感謝します。

マーティンもフットボール季節を楽しかったです。出張から急がしだけど、よくできれば、試合に行きました。たくさん写真を撮りました。試合後にペソコンを使って、悪い写真を捨てて、長い時間かかります。早くのほうが写真がウエブに載せるので、選手の両親に教えます。最近からの仕事は大変なったので、たぶんカメラマンになりたいです。笑。上のリンクを行って、写真を見てください。

Comments

[Father of Two]

Pam and Martin, Thank you for the pictures, we loved them each week. I remember watching your son play during the first week of practice and then seeing him out there each week. He has alot of courage and I hope he plays next year.

[Pamela]

Father of Two>
Thanks so much for your kind comment. (I love it when people comment on my blog but everyone is so shy)
"Courage" I like that. I think you're right. Now he's started wrestling and is all excited about the training.
Your family's contribution was amazing. I hope we are here next year to do it again.

[Ｅｉｉｃｈｉ Ｙｏｋｏｙａｍａ よこやま えいいち]

パメラさん、連絡をありがとうございました。
楽しくブログをみています。
マーティンさんはとても写真が上手ですね。
プロフェッショナルの写真家のようです。
私の息子の「ゆうすけ＃１(smoll)」もたくさん写っていました。
あまり活躍できませんでしたが、よく頑張りました。
妻(my wife)がジョナの写真を見て、とてもかわいいと言っています。
楽しい出会いを、ありがとうございました。