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Join Her. The Blue Collar Kid


Kylie Dawson at the on Nov. 4 Pick Up in the Park
I look out onto the field, but she's not there. The fierce, nitty-gritty, blue collar, I'll-find-a-way-where-there's-not-a-way-kid is no where to be found. Where has she gone? 

What have we done to her?

I miss her. I miss watching her play. I miss the ferocity and focus of her eyes.  I miss her anger, her tears, her post game spazzes. I miss her exploration, her creativity. I miss her determination, her passion. 

What have we done to her?

Have the exorbiant costs of youth sports forced her out of the game? Have we praised pretty too much or patted her too often on the back. Have we overemphasized skill and dimmed her competitive instinct. 

The early specialization, the debilitating costs, the pressure. Where's the fun in the game? Where's the exploration? The creativity? Where are the dialogues of different perspectives? The constructive conversations that promote progress? 

Is our system too black or white, too right or wrong? Too often do we have an end in sight? 

Have we developed strategies to win and not skill sets to compete? 

Do we truly encourage exploration, creativity, and progress beyond the point that we’ve determined the destination? 


Where is the Blue Collar Kid? 

I'm sure she's where she's always been, doing what she's always done. She's in the yard, or on the court, playing. 

And its time we join her. 

Pick Up in the Park.

Purpose: To empower creative play, develop competitive instincts, grow leaders, and unite our community. It’s spontaneous. It’s adventurous. It’s free. All you have to do is show up and play.


When: This Sunday 11am



Where: Roller Hockey Rink at Berlin Park across from the Berlin Farmer’s Market. We can use the tennis courts too.



What: We’ll be playing Hybrid Hockey. Field Hockey with a tennis ball.



Who: All Welcome. Moms, Dads, teens, kids. Experts and Novices alike. Sport for all.



What to Bring: If you have a hockey stick, bring it. If you want to wear shin guards or a mouth guard,  your call. I’ll have some extra hockey sticks if you don’t own one. Tape your stick if you don’t want it dragging along the concrete.



Important Note: This is not a clinic, or a league. There’s no red tape or insurance. Play at your own risk. It’s organic play. Time to be spontaneous, to explore and create.



A Little Secret: Can't make it? You can post and host your own pick up game 

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