Pin YOUR EARS back
My dad was a keen supporter of the Auckland Eastern Suburbs Rugby grade teams in the 1960’s. My twin brother Chris was a flanker (forward) and I was a winger (back). Dad would often position himself next to the opposition team’s try line and corner post. I would listen to him calling out to me, “Pin your ears back son!” This signal meant it was time for me to run as fast as I could to hopefully score a try in the corner. In a quieter voice, dad would then say, “A dollar a try.” He never paid. lol. In her younger years, my niece Lucy was inspired to run faster at athletic meetings by her grandpa (my dad) telling her in a joking way, “Run like there’s an angry dog chasing you.” It worked. Now our grandchildren play a variety of team sports and individual sports activities and Val and I love the way our daughters and their partners use encouraging words to motivate their children and other team players. Recently, I was watching a grandson playing touch rugby in Papamoa. His dad and t...