The Making of the MVP

It starts small , a block here, a pass that lead to a score. A tackle that allows the rest of the team to reach her in time. Sometimes it’s just her running along side the person who has the ball supporting them by passing it back and fourth as they close in on the goal. It does not happen fast and it does not happen overnight. It’s a collection of practice, observation and coaching. However once it arrives, once they become the person who is calling the shots and aggressively engaging the other players, tacking problems and finding solutions, it makes the game so much more fun. Here is to all those players who are still chasing their dreams, working on becoming the MVP. I see you out there, your efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Spartans vs Caribbean International: Cricket

Lets talk field sports. Not the ones where you hunt animals (those are actual field sports). What I am referring to is team competition field sports. If you are West Indian a popular one is Cricket. Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the center of which is a 20-meter (22-yard) pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striking the ball bowled at the wicket with the bat, while the bowling and fielding side tries to prevent this and dismiss each player (so they are "out"). Means of dismissal include being bowled, when the ball hits the stumps and dislodges the bails, and by the fielding side catching the ball after it is hit by the bat, but before it hits the ground. When ten players have been dismissed, the innings ends and the teams swap roles. As you can tell this is a very involved game, there is no glove to catch the ball, players use their bare hands! Most players learn to play at an early age but Cricket is normally a more mature mans sport. The Spartans and Caribbean International Cricket Club had a match today and they were kind enough to let me photograph their game. If your sports league is looking for a new challenge during off season, might I suggest Cricket. You might not be at the level of the Spartans or the CICC but it’s definitely a change of pace from the field sports you have played in the past and it might show you new ways to strengthen your teamwork. See more of my Sports Photography in the Video Presentations section of this website or visit my Instagram or Facebook page under the name StephenHookePhotography.

Gold Coast Derby Grrls: It's Roller Derby, it's very girly.

So I tell a friends, “hey, lets go to a Roller Derby game.” they looks at me and ask “whats that like?”, my response “it’s a girl vs girl sport, it’s very girly”. They give me the sarcastic look as if to say yea right! The truth is it is anything but girly, in the sense of delicate. Roller Derby is a contact sport where athletes are required to be competitive, aggressive and fast. There are various strategies, techniques and they practice 2-3 times a week to ensure they are ready for a match. Game play consists of a series of short match-ups (jams) in which both teams designate a jammer (who wears a star on the helmet). The jammer scores points by lapping members of the opposing team. The teams attempt to hinder the opposing jammer while assisting their own jammer—in effect, playing both offense and defense simultaneously. This is what makes Roller Derby so much fun to watch. If you have ever tried to navigate your way through rush hour traffic to get to work on time, you will have no problems following a Roller Derby match. You might even become a fan. See more of my Sports Photography in my video presentations on this website, visit my Instagram page or follow me on Facebook under Stephenhookephotograhy.