5 Ways Iqaluit's Organized Sports Revive Your Childhood Memories

We are officially halfway through the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and I sure have enjoyed watching the global competition unfold so far.

I am by no means a jock, but I am athletic enough. I grew up playing sports (well, mostly soccer) by way of school teams, seasonal leagues, and university intramurals.

When I moved to Iqaluit, I was eager to seek out my recreational options. There are many activities to choose from – volleyball, archery, badminton, curling, broomball (?!) – and I have tried my hand at a few of them.

I recently realized that my involvement in Iqaluit’s team sports has been a throwback to my youth in more ways than one. So, for better or for worse, here are 5 ways Iqaluit’s organized sports revive your childhood memories.

1. Picking teams still invokes fear.

The game: Indoor co-ed soccer.
The flashback: I showed up to play soccer one night. Walking into an unfamiliar gymnasium full of unfamiliar faces was intimidating to say the least. After a bit of a warm up, teams were to be decided. Being the new person, my worst fear came true: captains would pick their players. (Gah! I didn’t know that “practice” had equated to “try outs.” These people don’t even know my abilities!) I’ve always felt that the process of selecting teams is a gut-wrenching form of (un)natural selection. In anticipation of being chosen, you have to seek a fine balance between looking too eager (you mustn’t be awkwardly hopeful) and too uncomfortable (you must portray modest confidence). In the end, everyone was assigned to a team and the fun ensued. However, the somewhat humiliating experience of picking teams was still torturous, if only for a few minutes.

2. Top players get scouted and drafted.

The game: Senior men’s hockey.
The flashback: Clearly, I am not a senior men’s hockey player. However, I do know some senior men who play hockey. And so, I have watched the following process unfold at least a few times. It goes like this… A new guy comes to town. He has played some shinny in the past. He is looking for acceptance into the sporting world. At this point, one of two things happens: 1) if he is particularly talented, he will scouted and drafted to a team, 2) if he is not, he will play pick-up. Much like house>rep>metro sports leagues of our past, Iqaluit’s hockey options are inherently divided. Sure everyone can play, but your ego is definitely on the line.

3. “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose” is a bold-faced lie.

The game: ALL OF THEM! But in this case, dodge ball.
The flashback: When I first moved to Iqaluit, I joined a weekend dodge ball tournament. It was part of a fundraising campaign for the city’s proposed (and protested) aquatic centre. Termed the “long-popular elementary school version of a public stoning,” dodge ball requires a surprising amount of athleticism. Without having played since grade six, I was appalled at how terrible I was (I swear I used to throw harder and dodge/duck/dip/dive quicker). I was even more mortified when I was the last person standing on my team, facing three testosterone-infused opponents. Was I a threat? No. Did that stop an overly-competitive player from smashing my forearm point-blank? No. Did I think I had fractured my bone? Yes. Would I like to remind everyone that it is JUST A GAME? Heck yes.

*Disclaimer: I fully acknowledge that I, too, have a competitive spirit. Just ask my mother, who stopped letting me play Candyland as a child because I threw hissy fits when I got stuck in the Molasses Swamp.

4. Big League Chew is a big time hit.

The game: Softball.
The flashback: During a trip to Igloolik in June, I found two packs of Big League Chew at the local grocery store. Softball season had just started, so I knew what had to be done. It was expensive. It was probably expired. It was awesome. Whether you’re a kid or an adult, you simply cannot resist thin strips of sugar-packed bubble gum. Oh, the nostalgia!

5. Your teammates keep you coming back for more.

The game: All. But mostly softball and indoor women’s soccer.
The flashback: While my parents probably signed me up for sports to keep me 1) in shape and 2) out of the house trouble, I now have different motivations. Sure, I like to get my recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise, but what I really love is the social aspect of team sports. Bonding with teammates occurs at all ages; however, now it happens over a few pints of beer rather than a cooler full of unidentified orange drink…

The Qikiqtaaluk Corporation 979ers softball team.

Have you ventured out into the world of Iqaluit’s organized sports? Tell us some of your seasonal highlights (or lowlights) in the comment section below or via Twitter!