Writing Exercise #1: Kicking It in the Cricket Ground

Topic: The Cost of Effort

When you watch someone perform at a high level, look for the 'glitches' in the grace. Look for the mist of the breath, the mismatch of the gear, or the way the body reacts to the weather. Use the contrast between the observer (you) and the subject (the athlete) to ground the scene in reality.

Prompt:

Recall or imagine seeing someone practicing a sport in a public space (like a park or a cricket ground). Write a short 200–400 words sketch of the scene. The Visual Challenge: Focus on the sounds of impact, the thud or the kick, the specific colors of the gear that stand out against the landscape.

My Sketch:

Kicking It in the Cricket Ground

Two miles into the daily walk, the sound starts: a ball getting kicked hard, back and forth.

On the grass of the local cricket ground, a girl runs. Why are they practicing right now in this weather? I don't see more than three people on the field. Since it is a cricket ground and not a soccer field, a game is out of the question.

She has claimed a few yards of turf. She strikes the ball, chases it, and strikes it back.

Kick. Kick. Kick. Kick.

Wow, she looks good at this. Does she have a game coming up?

It is 39°F. My hands stay shoved deep in my pockets to move at all, yet she is slick with sweat. Her hair is pulled into a tight ponytail, a mix of pink and red. As she moves, the wet strands catch the sunlight and throw off bright sparks. Her legs are toned. She wears blue socks that do not match the rest of her gear. As she pivots, the pink undersides of her grey and white shoes flash against the grass.

Two men watch her. One stands in a white t-shirt and a heavy leather jacket that looks used. Is that her dad? He looks dedicated, standing there watching her with slow movements. The other man wears a goalie jersey and shorts. Is that guy the coach? He claps his hands and speaks to her fast, his eyes darting to track the ball's every rotation. He is energized and focused, while the dad just stands there.

She breathes heavily, the air turning to mist. Maybe she is a professional player practicing on a weekday morning in an empty field with two coaches? Or maybe she is a college soccer player?

She has to have something good going on to be running around here in this weather. Someone has to be dedicated to what they do to be practicing like this.

I continue walking. I stop the recording and slide my voice recorder back into my pocket. Thud. The sudden sound makes me stumble; I almost fall into a garbage can I failed to see while I was busy observing her practice. I take another step toward my path and continue towards mile number 3.