No Thinking, Just Skating!

"Be present."
This was mantra of my high school swim coach.  He meant that you should always attempt to focus your energies on the task at hand, but I think it means something more too.  High performing athletes (and musicians) refer to times called "white moments" when it's almost like your body takes over for your mind.  You're so in the moment that it's almost as if you're in a state of active meditation where every move you make comes out with total precision.  It's the process of trusting your body to do the things it already knows how to do.
Last night, my body knew how to play roller hockey.
The point of playing roller hockey at derby practice appears to be twofold.  1.)  It's fun.  2.)  when you're focused on something external, like a stick and a ball, you're supposed to be able to skate better.  I had heard both of these theories before last night and because I'm always skeptical of new things I had my doubts.  It sounded a lot like middle school gym class coming back to haunt me. 
As we made our way to pick up a hockey stick I asked one of our refs what the rules of hockey were.  He turned to me, "have you ever seen seven year olds play soccer?"
"Sure.  They all run after the ball."
"This is going to look a lot like that."
Feeling a little like I had just been reduced to the level of a Boston terrier, I gathered my stick and returned to the side of the rink designated to my team.  The ball dropped and indeed my all my higher functions reduced themselves to a single imperative:  GET THE BALL.  Did I need to run full speed all the way down the court, transition and stop on a dime?  Who cares?  I NEED THE BALL.  GET THE BALL.  Did I need to block while skating backwards?  THE BALL IS MINE.  I AM IN BETWEEN IT AND THE OPPOSITION.  Did I have to make a sharp cut around the goal?  I WILL GET THE BALL FROM BEHIND THE NET.  45 minutes of intense play passed and I don't remember feeling tired or out of breath.  I never ran into another player unless I meant to.  I scored all the points for my team.
When all was said and done, my ref friend came and found me.  "You are awesome when you don't think!  You were doing things I've never seen you do before.  We should make you play roller derby holding a stick."  There's a lesson to be learned here, but I need to try a few things before I decide exactly what the lesson is (especially since there's no way they would let me play roller derby holding a stick).  When I was a cadet, we talked a little about decisiveness as an asset.  I was a very decisive player then, and have become less so since I've learned a little more about what I'm supposed to be doing.  The lesson I'm taking away for now is to act instead of react, and just see what happens.
And get the ball.  Always get the ball.
<posted on 8.6.12>