Most improved player
Regular readers will know my younger two kids are little stars. They’re clever, they’re good at sport, they work hard and they achieve. They have the trophies and the glowing school reports to show for it.
But that’s not to say my eldest isn’t special too. He’s above average intelligence, with a good general knowledge and an interest in current affairs and the world around him. He is polite and friendly and adults adore him. He is a son anyone would be very proud and happy to have. He just doesn’t have quite as many trophies as his siblings.
He’s been playing rugby for four seasons now. He’ll never be the best rugby player in the world, but he does well and gets better every season. This season he has also played for the school, which I’m sure has helped his skills and confidence for his team too.
Every year there is an awards evening at rugby at the end of the season. It’s a fun evening for families with bouncy castles, a barbecue and an awful lot of boys drinking Coke and letting off steam. There are also trophies. Every year each of the age groups awards three trophies – coach’s player of the season, players’ player of the season and most improved player of the season.
We’ve had our eye on that ‘most improved’ prize ever since under 10s. My son is in under 13s now. Surely it was his time? His rugby has really come on a lot this year. I really, really wanted him to get that trophy (and I’m sure he did too, but he’s now at an age when it’s not cool to mention these things).
The late 30s private school dad doing the announcements said: ‘Under 13s most improved player… ‘ and as he said my son’s first name, my daughter (who can’t stand her brother of course) cheered.
I waited. We’d made that mistake before. His first name is particularly popular among middle class rugby playing boys – with three of them in his team. But one of the others won it last year. It WAS him, wasn’t it?
It was. They said his surname and I cheered and I felt the tears pricking my eyes.
I felt so proud of him. He’d got there in the end. His hard work and progress had been recognised.
My boy – the most improved player.
Aw that’s fantastic! Well done to him xx
Thanks very much 🙂 x
Well done to him!! Lovely that his little sister was cheering for him too 🙂
Thank you! They’re such a funny pair – they niggle each other constantly, but they’re there for each other when it really matters!
Aww a big well done to him. You’ll have to start putting up more shelves soon for the rest that’ll be coming in over time :).
Thanks very much 🙂 We certainly will! (Or we’ll have to start weeding out some of the less significant ones! This one is definitely significant though!)
Huge congrats to him Sarah, bet he’s chuffed with himself #MagicMoments
Thanks very much! He is, but I think I’m more chuffed than him – he’s at that age where he tries to play things cool! x
Well done, no.1 son. And a telling reaction from your daughter. Public recognition for endeavour and improvement is such a good thing.
Thanks very much – and it certainly is! It’s lovely the way daughter supports him when it really matters.
Oh, brilliant! Well done to him x
Thanks very much 🙂
So pleased for you Sarah and your son of course, I know how much you support their weekend training and matches. A great trophy to win, I hope he continues to shine in his Rugby.
Thanks very much. He’s been close to giving up a couple of times this season, so hopefully it will give him the confidence going into next season 🙂
How wonderful for him and you. Well done 🙂
Thanks very much, Iona 🙂
awww Sarah this is so lovely, i remember that dreaded feeling of sitting on the edge of your seat with the glimmer of hope!
I am so pleased your son was finally recognised for his achievements x
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments x
Thanks very much, Jaime. It’s amazing how long that fraction of a second between first name and surname seems to take! x
Awww, well done, he must be so proud! Those kinds of things have even more value when you have worked hard for them. Mel #MagicMoments
They certainly do! Thanks very much, Mel 🙂
Wow x well done x
Thank you!
How wonderful for him. And I bet that it’ll do his confidence the world of good. I’m not surprised you’re proud.
It certainly will! There have been a couple of times this season when he’s been close to quitting, so this will help him keep going.
That’s fantastic!! Well done x
Thank you, Kim!
Fab – well done to him xx #magicmoments
Thanks very much 🙂 x
Yayyyyyyyy Welldone!!! How fantastic, Love the Trophy.. Such a very proud Special Moment! #MagicMoment
Thanks very much, Leanne, it really is!
That’s fantastic, I’m sure he is really proud of himself even though it’s not cool to say that at his age ;0) x
Very true! Thanks very much.
I’ll admit…a wee cheer slipped out there when I read he got the trophy! What a really lovely post and massive congrats to that ‘most improved player’ of yours! He deserves it!! #magicmoments
That’s so lovely! Thanks very much 🙂
Ah, you got me again 🙂 Wonderful Sarah, well done to your son xx #MagicMoments
Thank you! Sorry, but not sorry 🙂 x
Well done! What a fabulous acheivement. I would have cried bucket loads… #magicmoments
Thanks very much. I would have been in BIG trouble if I’d cried!
Brilliant – whilst it is supposed to be all about the taking part, a trophy doesn’t half help things along!
It certainly does! He’s been taking part for four years now, it’s nice to get that recognition.
Oh well done! You must all be so proud! x
Wonderful! Almost anyone can be clever, but it takes real spirit to persevere. Well done him and a tear-prickingly proud Mum!! #magicmoments
Well done to him! A very proud moment indeed!
Thanks very much, everyone! 🙂
Yay! Well done to him, you must be a very proud mummy 🙂
I certainly am! Thanks very much 🙂
That just made me well up too, massive congratulations to him and to his parents for supporting him and helping him get there 🙂 x
#MagicMoments
Thank you! 🙂 I love making people well up, I know it’s a good post then! x
Yay! Well done him #smallsteps
Hello there, I love your blog and especially this post-fantastic news! Very glad to hear it and very well deserved. xxx
Thanks very much, Lystra. That’s a lovely thing to say! Really appreciate it x
A well deserved award for your son.
Thanks for linking up with Small Steps Amazing Achievements :0)
x
Thanks, Jane! Always a pleasure to link up 🙂 x