earth and sod

Artificial turf is excellent for our Canadian climate. It allows for training in nearly any weather. It's more economical in the long run, but it's no match to the proverbial grass pitch. Even the translucent lime coloured light it emanates under the rising and setting sun is much kinder on the eyes then the blinding glare of artificial turf. And the sent of a real sporting green can be intoxicating.

I'm reminded of such an affect this past summer. My son had an evening practice out in Vaughan, it  also happened to be the birthday of one of his coaches. It was a beautiful day, the sun setting low in the sky, casting long shadows across the pitch. There had been rain two days previous and the grass was a rich green. I walked over to greet the coach, the boys were playing a small sided possession game and mashing up the dirt and grass. As I neared fragrant rich earth and sod over took my senses. The effect was immediate and profound. If it were possible the skies could open up and shower down a chamomile tea mist I might have felt a similar sensation. It stirred in me a pleasant energy.

It was clear I was not the only one. The boys faces looked happy as they played, and although they always work hard, tonight they seemed to have more pep. The field was in good shape and I'm sure the earth beneath their feet felt much better then the hard carpet or the poorly maintained fields they often trained on. Their touches where sharp, and they seemed to be gleaming.

I suppose one might say that playing game on a good sporting green is much like a celebration of our place with nature.