Surfing Laguna: Learning the rules of the game

Coaching my son George’s Little League Baseball team reminds me so much of kids learning to surf.

It’s all about having a great time while learning the nuances of the sport.

Baseball on the surface is hitting, running, throwing and catching. Sounds easy enough, right? It gets really exciting as you add those “darn” rules to the game “” you know, stay inside the lines, three strikes, etc.

One kid on our team, in an attempt to avoid getting tagged out, ran from first base through the outfield around the bleachers and back to home plate, all the while being happily chased by several members of the opposite team.

He was slightly perplexed when told the run would not count. Meanwhile the peanut gallery, me included, were loving it, laughing hysterically!

Surfing sounds similarly easy on the surface, too “” paddling, jumping up to your feet and riding. But as anyone who has tried it can attest, it takes much practice to feel comfortable out in the lineup. In surfing there are so many moving parts “” heck, the actual playing field is constantly shifting, rising up and crashing as we attempt to harness and ride these watery ramps.

News flash “” it’s 2010 and skills still rarely come through osmosis. NASA needs to look into this immediately and develop a pill or potion.

Oh, the glorious sight of watching a kid catch a big pop fly, or a kid’s toothy grin as they ride a wave from start to finish, jumping off on the sand. These are the goals, right?

One thing I’ve realized a bit more this season (cue sappy music) is that it’s the time spent with our kids as the journey unfolds “” that’s where much treasure can be found.

CHRIS WILLIAMS is a surfing coach and Laguna Beach resident, and father of four surf-crazy sons. He can be reached at chris@soulsurfingschool.com or (949) 497-5918.