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The son of parents who are both
natives of England, it should come as little surprise that Lively
Elementary grade 8 student Christopher Ball lists soccer as his number
one sport. But it’s the commitment and studying of the game that he
carries to all other endeavours that has clearly allowed him to excel
across the board athletically.
A setter with the
Rainbow Board championship Hawks team this year, Ball approached this
challenge with the same mindset he carries to most sports. “I was
really committed to the game. And of course, I’m not one of those
really tall kids, so it’s not like I can spike it down really hard”,
notes the youngest of the two sons of Steve and Sarah Ball (older
brother Matthew also played multiple sports).
That combination made
him a pretty natural choice for head coach Eric Bacon to undertake the
role of setter, generally acknowledged as the “court general” for
their volleyball teams. Despite playing his first “really big year” of
volleyball this season, Ball quickly showed signs of possessing huge
potential on the learning curve of the game.
“Knowing where to go –
“serve transitions”, as Mr Bacon calls them – I’ve always been good at
that”, notes the youngster who will call Lo-Ellen Park Secondary home
next year. Taken one step further, Ball explains that “serve
transition is the ability to get to your spot while the ball is in the
air.”
Spend just a few
minutes with this well-spoken thirteen year-old and it becomes crystal
clear why coaches identify quickly Ball’s ability to play a “thinking
man’s game”. Not surprising, the same traits are prevalent when
discussing his soccer background.
Graduating from the
ranks of the houseleague soccer system in Walden, Christopher Ball has
enjoyed a few years of competitive soccer with the Walden Italia
Flyers, as well as benefiting from the additional training that comes
hand in hand with being selected to Brian Ashton’s Regional program.
“I got a lot more
“goalie work” with the Regional team, since we actually had a goalie
coach”, Ball points out. In fact, it’s not unusual to see him
patrolling the field as a defender with the Flyers, despite
acknowledging that playing “keeper” is definitely his main position.
Talk a little soccer
with Christopher and some recurring themes are front and centre once
again. “My commitment to the game and wanting to practice” are two
qualities Ball suggests help set him apart from some of the other
soccer netminders.
“And since I’m not
really a tall goalie, I tend to come out and challenge a lot
more…because I can’t reach the crossbar yet”, he says with a laugh.
Although his background on the pitch far exceeds the court time he has
enjoyed to date, Ball is quick to note that his interest in both have
definitely been piqued with secondary school athletics lurking right
around the corner.
“Mr Bacon kind of
introduced volleyball to everyone in a whole different way, so
everyone on the team really loves it now” states Ball, adding that he
looks forward to Grade 9 tryouts come next fall.
Also a member of an
NOHA championship team which attended all-Ontario playdowns during his
days with the Walden Devils, the well-rounded youth, who also enjoys
playing bass guitar, suggests that it’s not like all sports have come
naturally.
“Basketball – I just
don’t seem to get it”, he says with a roll of the eyes. But that won’t
stop him from testing his athletic boundaries moving forward. “I’m
probably going to try badminton. I’ve never done it before, but my mom
really wants me to – she’s a big badminton person.”
As for Christopher
Ball, rest assured that he will be a “big person” on some of his
sports teams in the years to come. Even if he’s not that tall.
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