The followng story closely parallels the life of my stepson. It is intended for adults only.
Following Bryce's circumcision, things once again settled down. We still saw Charles who visited with us frequently. He would come over and play basketball with Bryce and sometimes they swam in our pool --with bathing suits I might add. And sometimes he joined me at the club for a round of golf. At 18, he seemed to easily socialize with both my son and myself. Bryce resumed his baseball playing about 10 days following his surgery and Charles frequently met us at the field. Soccer tryouts at his new school were scheduled for the 2nd week of July. I could not believe how fast our summer was going. It seemed like he had barely gotten out of school and we were already getting into a routine for his new school. I try to attend all of his practices. For one thing, he needs a ride to them and I enjoy watching him. Bryce is a talented athlete and it is amazing how skillful he is as a soccer Forward cutting through the Defense to the goal. On the soccer pitch he is clearly a different boy. He plays with confidence, enthusiasm and most importantly, he plays to win. It doesn't matter whether it is a practice or a tournament, if he is on that field he is hellbent on planting that ball in the goal.
I had just transferred him into the Latin School from public school. Originally, I was going to send him there for high school only but there were increasing problems at his public school, so I transferred him over for 8th grade.
I knew that going to The Latin School was going to be a considerable change for Bryce. For one thing, there was the consent form that allowed for the use of Corporal punishment. That surprised me and it shocked Bryce. I dismissed it as an issue however telling Bryce that he had nothing to fear because he was never a troublemaker. Or so I thought.
Soccer tryouts were an eye-opening experience. Tryouts were not on the main fields but were relegated to a series of 12 practice fields stretched out behind the school There were many team tryouts going on at the same time: football, lacrosse and soccer both for the junior high as well as tryouts for the Freshman, JV and varsity high school teams.
Bryce was told to report to Field 6 and was told to wear the school's white PE shorts and to bring an old white undershirt. I did not understand the reason for an old shirt but soon saw that they used a magic marker to put a number on the shirt. About 40 guys turned out for Opening tryouts so I guess it was much easier identifying the players by a number than trying to memorize all 40 names. Interestingly, when they divided the boys into two teams, they played the traditional skins vs shirts and for the bare chested boys, they then applied their numbers on to their backs and right bicep.
The soccer coach for the Junior High team was a no-nonsense kind of guy but that is probably a very good trait to have in a coach. At the first day of practice, he told the boys that there were three things that separated a winning team from the rest...that made a team a championship team: Skill, stamina and luck. He said that while he could not always control their luck, he could improve their skill and stamina. Later on, he expounded on the stamina issue. He said that statistically 75% of winning goals are made in the last 10 minutes of a game. He said the reason for this is that one team gets tired and that gives the better fit team an edge. "We are going to be the team that always has that edge..."
Practices always started out with a run around the perimeter of the 12 fields. This was no small run. I estimated it was a good half mile round trip. And there was already a well-worn path around the circumference of the fields from the pounding the grass took as the many teams took their laps many laps I might add.
One thing I was struck with when Coach Parker strutted on to the field that first day. Clipped to his belt was a cell phone and a brown leather jokari-type paddle. For those not familiar, it was like the back of a hairbrush in shape. He wore it clipped on his belt and you could not miss it and I am sure none of the boys did either. I know Bryce saw it. In fact, I noticed that as the coach spoke, Bryce stared directly at the paddle the entire time. I guess that is one way to hold the boy's attentions.
I mentioned that 40 boys showed up for tryouts. Actually the number was 42. But two boys showed up after 8:02 am. Tryouts started at 8am. Coach Parker gave a 2 minute grace period being that it was the first day. Those that were not on the field by 8:02 were sent home. Their tryouts for the year ended. And thereafter, he warned the boys that there would be no 2 minute grace period. If practice was at 8am, they damn well better be there by 8. And after the team was picked, he moved the practice start times back to 7am to help avoid the intense heat of the day. Of course, boys who showed up late were not sent home. That is why he kept that paddle on his hip.
As I said, practices started out with a jog around the perimeter of the field --as it did for all of the other teams. When the team made its way back to Field 6, Parker tapped the shoulders of the last two boys. It was all very polite. He moved them behind the nearby storage shed out of sight. Out of sight but not hearing range. What we heard was: "Being last is a sign of laziness boys. We do not tolerate laziness. Drop your shorts and grab hold of the shed....DO IT NOW!......legs apart......SWAT!.....ow.....SWATT! ....Ahhh.....SWATTT!.....AHHHHH!!!!!. Then the other boy was addressed: SWAT! No! please!!.....SWATT!!.....OWWW...THAT HURTS!!!.......SWATTT!!!!..... AHHHHH......I'm sorry...please no more!!!..... Ok boys....pull up your shorts and join your teammates.....Now. And within seconds, two red faced, tear streaked faces re-emerged from behind the shed. Coach Parker then addressed the team: "Laggers get 3 strokes from the Enforcer (pointing to his paddle remounted on his belt). You never want to be last on this team. Now....let's try that run around the field one more time!
Holy shit! what was previously a jog around the field this time was a Run-For-Your-Life race to the finish line. Parker stood there watching them beaming. He got exactly the reaction he wanted. He had their attention. And just like the last time, the last two boys were tapped on the shoulder and brought behind the shed soon to emerge red faced and tearful. From only 3 slaps with that paddle.
The paddle was used for other forms of encouragement also. He had the boys do soccer scrimmages at 30 minute stretches and then 15 minutes of hard workouts....push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks etc. Boys showing an inability to complete the reps of 30 were soon visiting the back of the shed. On one of those trips back there, I heard this: "Where is your jockstrap boy?" Oh wow. I knew the boys had to wear jocks for PE, but I did not think it would be a requirement for practices or soccer games. Soccer players don't wear jockstraps, relying mostly on compression underwear or briefs. I had told Bryce he didn't need to wear a jock and instead he wore briefs to practice. Apparently, I was wrong. And the boy behind the shed to take his 3, suddenly found himself getting 6. And clearly six from that paddle left a boy hurting. He was howling by 4. That had Bryce sweating bullets and frankly, me too. Afterall, it was my assurance to not wear a jock. And it was now a powerful incentive for Bryce to not be last or not complete a drill. But, he was in good shape and that was not a problem.
The tryouts went on the entire morning before the players were split into two teams and they played each other --shirts vs skins. Bryce was a shirt, Player #4. After scoring two goals in quick succession, however, the coach benched him, not out of punishment but because he had seen enough of his skills. Because of the heat, the temperature was now nearing 90 and the humidity high, he did call time outs while the players got water on the sidelines and he also had a hose with running water held by a team manager so the boys could cool down with a soak. That's when I noticed what soon became obvious to everyone. The team was playing in white Umbro shorts distributed by the school. These were made of a silky rayon-type fabric that when it got wet, turned almost totally transparent. There was no hiding what was underneath and it soon became all too clear which boys had jockstraps and which didn't. Coach Parker saw that also. Soon 9 boys found themselves behind the shed, screaming, crying and begging and promising to always wear the jockstraps. Bryce, having long since taken the bench did not get hosed down fortunately and his lack of complete uniform was not caught that day. From then on he made sure to always wear a jockstrap. And, when those boys emerged from the shed, they did so wearing their soccer shorts but no longer their underpants. They finished the rest of the practice...the drills...the runs....wearing just their transparent shorts with no underpants to help with their modesty. Sometimes punishments take several forms.
Following that first day of practice, the coach ordered the team to the showers. I noticed that their departure to the shower room was carefully orchestrated by the coaches to avoid having too many teams in their at one time. This was a school that thought of everything it seems.
Bryce emerged from the locker room exhausted. Even though he spent the soccer drills on the bench having already earned a slot, he had to take part in all of the conditioning drills. They ran around that field at least a dozen times and by the end of that practice I would guess they had done 90 pushups or more although not at once. In fact, when the boys did get their turn to go in the locker room and shower, I think all they cared about was getting under the cool water and get home to a much needed rest. But as the coach said, he was going to work on their skills and their stamina.
Later that week, we got an email from the school saying that females would no longer be allowed at the practice fields and that they should wait for their boys in the parking lot. They didn't go into specifics but I think between the paddling and the shorts that all but disappeared when wet, it was a wise rule to make.
Bryce made the team and the coach whipped these boys into shape...literally. Bryce got introduced to the paddle on his third practice. And by then without fear of any females present those paddlings did not take place behind the shed anymore but out in front on the field. They would lower their shorts but not their jocks. And their red asses shown like beacons under those shorts. Bryce was horrified the first time he got the paddle. But like all boys he adjusted. Good thing too because these boys got it alot during practices....as did the other boys on the other fields. You could constantly hear the slap! slap! slap! of paddles kissing bare skin up and down the fields. It became a part of the routine of practice at the Latin School.