A couple of months ago, Arnav, Divyanshu and I decided to start a batting sports ASA under the guidance of Dr. Leigh to share our love for Cricket and other batting sports with other Secondary Students during Quarter 2 of the 2019-2020 academic year. However, a few weeks after we had confirmed that the ASA would be taking place with the Activities Director and were excited to get our bats out, we found out that our initial venue — the School Field — would not be available as it was being used for Track and Field and Football. In the midst of this dilemma, we were all but sure that the After School Activity would get cancelled until we noticed the Primary Playground near the front of the school campus just a couple of days before the ASA sign up form would be sent out.

The space was much smaller than the field, but we were allowed to relocate to the Primary playground after we agreed to modify the rules in our batting games to disincentivize strong striking that could damage the primary school’s infrastructure. At this point our excitement had been reinvigorated, but our hopes of successfully establishing this Batting Sports ASA were diminished again when the ASA Sign up form was sent out without any batting sports option. Although we contacted the Activities director and got our ASA listed on the form in a few hours, we weren’t sure that anyone would even join the ASA.

As a result of all of these roadblocks, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all of us — Dr Leigh, Divyanshu, Arnav and I — were elated to see 7 people, which is the perfect amount given the size of the field and the 1 hour duration of the activity, on the primary playground at the start of our first Batting Sports Session. Thus far, we have had three Batting Sports sessions where we have played limited overs cricket, softball and a slight adaptation of softball that I’d never played before called wiffle ball. Both cricket and wiffle ball has been extremely successful, but softball was more of a challenge since we had many more home runs that hit the primary school head on.

Overall, I don’t regret starting the Batting Sports ASA as it’s been a lot of fun and has given me some great opportunities to develop my leadership, teamwork, coordination and communication skills. It’s also great to have something to look forward to on Friday evenings after a long week of work as a senior. We hope to continue the batting sports ASA after the winter break through quarter 3 as well.