Jenny X. '13 | October 10, 2009
"LET'S PLAY"
My high school didn’t have the broadest range of athletic options, so I've always been excited about finding new rec’ stuff to try out in college. Besides, as in the good ol' childhood times, it’s always fun to meet and get to know people by playing games.
It’s no secret that MIT is not an athletic giant – for one, Briggs Field conspicuously lacks a shiny football stadium. Nevertheless, I was surprised to find MIT more “jock-y” than I expected. So many students play varsity sports, and discussions about various practices and games span classroom chatter and advising seminars. The general scheduling rule here is classes from 9-5, sports from 5-7, and other activities from 7-later. Students are dedicated. One of my suitemates is on the Varsity Field Hockey team and attends to a hockey-related event almost every day; for hours at a time. And it's always refreshing to see people get up and leave during classes for athletic commitments. Even better, some of the highest-achieving teams here (like crew or sport taekwondo) are completely open to walk-ons and beginners. My impression is, there are plenty of chances to play if you’re willing to dedicate.
But to get to the semi-main point of this entry: DODGEBALL!
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It might be kind of pathetic that I’ve never played dodgeball in my entire primary and secondary school P.E. career, but that’s what college is for right? So three weeks into MIT, intramurals were set up, teams were made, and schedules began popping up. I joined team tennis (I had played in high school) and dun dun dun – dodgeball! (because it’s both foreign to me and involves less running). Tennis has yet to start, but we've already completed three dodgeball games.
Rewind a little bit-
Intramurals (IM) here involve all different groups of people affiliated with MIT: fraternity brothers, graduate students, cultural or religious student organizations, dorms, etc. My team is called the Burton 1 All-Blacks (Yea, like that passionate New Zealand Rugby team, and well, we live on Burton 1 – the first floor of the Burton side of the Burton-Conner dorm. To live up to our name, we wear all black, and have a somewhat-prepared, sometimes-performed war dance. ☺
While Dodgeball is played in the Z-Center – a central fitness complex on West Campus – its exact location is very well concealed. After three flights of stairs and at least five double-doors, you will find MAC courts, a multi-purpose arena with basketball hoops and enclosed by 10-feet high transparent plastic walls.
Burton 1 All Blacks on standby, waiting to go in the game; @ the super-exclusive MAC courts
Dodgeball itself is a peculiar game. The concept is elementary, really – you either hit someone with a ball, or dodge a ball thrown at you, catch a ball to take out the thrower, or deflect a thrown ball with a ball to keep the game going. But regardless, everyone gets so into it! Bam! Bam! Bam! Auuuhhhhhhrrrrrahhhhghh!
Come to think of it, dodgeball is really like recess. Considering the typical MIT day, when midnight really means mid-day, a 10 PM dodgeball game is the prime opportunity to undo all the stress and in-activity accumulated over a day or days. Yelling, jumping, falling, playing - like little kids. And at the end of it all, we shake hands, cheer for the winning team, trek back to the dorm, and promptly disperse to rejoin our p-sets. Sweet.
Here’s a quick video to visualize the mayhem.
P.S.
At 8:30 PM yesterday, I finished my first salad meal…ever! [Half-influenced by my salad-eating suitemates; half out of guilt for consuming pastries and whatnot for dinner the night before.
Just had to share this. :)
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The author has filed this entry in the "Athletics" , "Health & Safety" , "Student Life & Culture" , "Work/Play Balance At MIT" section; check it out for further reading on this topic. |
Responses To This Entry:
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My school has a dodgeball team(on which I have never, and will never, play). But as always, it's nice to see how many great opportunities MIT has...from recreational sports to amazing eye-opening seminars...it's really a unique school in that aspect. So yeah, and congratulations on finishing that salad. :)
Posted by: Lindsey ('14?) on October 10, 2009 02:05 PM
Dodgeball = hardcore
Posted by: Wendy on October 10, 2009 02:16 PM
pastries and whatnots, huh?
Posted by: Chris Cole on October 10, 2009 04:12 PM
In Soviet Russia, Pastries and Whatnots eat YOU!
Posted by: Anonymous on October 10, 2009 05:21 PM
I think dodgeball is a really cool game. I have never played it before but i think am gonna like it. Just like Rugby, I can hardly believe that thing is legal!!!!!
Congrats on the salad-am not a big fan of salad.
Posted by: Nissi('14?) on October 10, 2009 06:42 PM
Burton 1 All-Blacks are so intense that even cripples go to the games!
Posted by: Juhee on October 10, 2009 07:38 PM
remember to dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge
Posted by: Anonymous on October 10, 2009 10:21 PM
Nice! Dodgeball was my favorite game in middle school. If I am so fortunate to attend MIT, I will undoubtedly try to get in on this. :D
Oh, and yum, salad. :)
Posted by: VAL ('14?) on October 11, 2009 10:57 AM
I saw some hardcore dodging in the vid ;)
Salad is very good for you (admit it, how much salad dressing did you put >.
Posted by: Matt on October 11, 2009 03:34 PM
Man, that salad container... reminds me of the garden salad at La Verdes...
Posted by: NostalgicAlum on October 12, 2009 02:03 AM
I love that Dordy's in a dress, playing dodgeball.
Posted by: Liz on October 12, 2009 08:31 PM
I love dodge ball, and wish it were on TV with more universal rules.
Posted by: Raff on October 13, 2009 03:18 PM
