Under the Lights and in the Dark by Gwendolyn Oxenham (June 2018)
Gwendolyn Oxenham collects a number of stories about women’s soccer from around the world in this 2017 work. The book goes full circle in a way as the first and last chapters are about American players with a connection to Portland, Oregon. Along the journey, Oxenham makes stops in many places around the world, gathering stories about women who have devoted their lives to the game simply because they love to play.
As I read the first story, I got the sense that this was going to be a special book. It did not quite work out that way in hindsight and I don’t think I can really recommend it for a non-soccer fan. However, I still enjoyed the collection overall. Each story was about an athlete overcoming some form of adversity – injuries, lack of playing opportunity, not making the team, and so on – and I think those themes always makes for the kind of stories I enjoy reading.
A common theme that emerged among many of the stories was how great things are built when those who lead one generation inspire the leaders of the next generation. This could mean simple measures like an experienced player being approachable (or even just learning the names of younger players). It also could be reinvestment in the sport manifesting through ex-players returning to coach or mentor. The important thing is for the successful to give others chances because whenever someone a level up in a hierarchy feels ‘too good’ to participate in grassroots efforts, the slow and steady rhythm of growth and progress is inevitably slowed or halted.
One up: Oxenaham notes in one passage how lifelong athletes can sometimes struggle to perform in environments lacking an authority figure who barks out exact orders. I thought this was a fascinating insight that mirrored my own professional observations. Though there is a truism that former college athletes make for good professionals, I think these ex-athletes succeed when the work environment mirrors the collegiate athletic environment. In professional life, this isn’t always the case and over the years I’ve noted many instances when former athletes have struggled under less direct leadership or in more ambiguous work environments.
One down: I generally try to avoid making specific comments about an author’s content decisions in these reviews. However, I feel compelled to share my disappointment that Japan’s 2011 World Cup winning team did not make it into the book. I think this is one of the sport’s best stories – an underdog team overcame challenges including poor funding, inconsistent training, and a general lack of opportunity for its players to topple the sport’s traditional powers and lift the trophy after defeating the USA in the final. As if that wasn’t enough, this all happened just months after the tragedy of 2011’s massive tsunami had left Japan reeling (1). It’s too bad that readers did not get the chance to learn more about ‘Nadeshiko Japan’ and learn the inspiring story about this team that sacrificed and endured so much just for the opportunity of representing their country at the sport’s showpiece tournament.
Just saying: I wasn’t expecting lessons about religion but I was pleasantly surprised about what I learned. In one section, Oxenham suggests that The Bible is clear on exactly nothing and that those with questions must bring them up with God.
In another, she mentions that although bringing things into the light can help bring healing and progress, most broken things must be handled gently. People who feel blindsided are rarely going to agree that others are being helpful. As Scripture suggests, go to them privately.
Footnotes / the movie would probably be called Miracle On Grass
1. It’s bizarre that the USA ever considers itself the underdog in anything, really, except men’s soccer…
In fact, if the roles were reversed and it was the USA that won the tournament as the underdog, with players whose financial situations were described in the run-up to the tournament as 'borderline poverty', there would probably still be movies coming out about the team.
