I am a bit of a perfectionist, but must confess, there are certain things I don’t actually mind doing badly.  I won’t go into detail because I don’t want you to think poorly of me *ahem*; but volleyball is one of those things that I’m not good at, but am happy to give it a go, and today I did just that.

A couple of months ago I was caught in a moment of weakness by a couple of the girls from my workplace who I know from the gym. They were looking for suckers enthusiastic colleagues with a sense of camaraderie to represent our agency in the annual Corporate Games. Note that when I say ‘represent’ I don’t mean one is selected in any way.

Anyway, after refusing touch football and a few other options I finally succumbed to their begging and pleading and agreed to play in the mixed volleyball competition. At that stage the Games were such a long time into the future they barely registered as a blip on my radar.

Time passed – as it does – and suddenly Games’ time was upon us. We pfaffed about working out names (To Kill a Blocking Nerd, Scared Hitless etc) and deciding what to wear – Borat style one-piece swimsuits were briefly on the table, along with all-in-one neon lycra…

I have to admit to feeling a bit (lot) of antipathy about the whole thing in the days beforehand. I’d agreed to take my mother back to her hometown (following her post-surgery recovery here with my brother and I) which meant a fleeting trip given my Sunday volleyball commitment. We were also in the pool of teams with an early start (earlier still to register beforehand) and I don’t like HAVING to be somewhere early on a Sunday because it impacts on my Saturday evening plans. (Yes, it’s true I would normally go clubbing until the wee hours, but reading in the bath and an early night had to suffice!)

However, three games and three losses later, I must confess I had a great time. I arrived full of my usual self-deprecating disclaimers, “I’m not very good.” “I can’t dig.” “I’ve barely played.” And I was obviously so convincing that one of the guys kept telling me how amazing well I played. Hmmm… I realised later his expectations were so low that perhaps I over-sold my ineptness!

I should admit that we were thrashed in our first two 20 minute games, but only lost by one point in our third (and we were about to serve when the end-hooter went). Thankfully, though there was ‘some’ seriousness from a couple of our players, everyone was very supportive and no one particularly cared how we did. We were also the only team without a ‘uniform’ and I was more than happy to be part of a bedraggled but still-fabulous team. I must confess that I worried a bit in the preceding days – we’d agreed on black, but my only black shirts aren’t particularly long and I was worried I’d feel chubby in a shorter shirt with my tracksuit pants. But once we started playing I felt no self-consciousness at all!

I walked yesterday in my (childhood) hometown so today was to be a rest day for me, but I was surprised to have worked up such a sweat – even just in our practice beforehand. Not to mention the fact that I’ve come away some evidence that I really and truly ‘threw’ myself into the games (yes, I have a habit of diving to reach a ball… I can’t help myself!).

I suspect I will have sore / tight knees over coming days, but war wounds always offer a good story.

Surprisingly I’m glad I gave up my Sunday morning to toss a ball around with some colleagues (a couple of whom I barely knew previously). And, I was again reminded that there are some things I’m quite contented to just ‘suck’ at – or wallow in mediocrity… and surely that’s a lesson in humility in itself!

Do you suck at sport, or are there certain things you’re not good at? Do you care?

Don’t forget to enter my competition / giveaway! You have until Friday 25 May 2012!