Avalon Eagles Practice 2019

The first thing I saw as I approached Avalon was the stadium on the hill. It was a welcoming sight and a relief because I found it before I even got to town. I bet when the lights are on for a night game, it's a beacon in the night for the visiting teams welcoming them in from their travels. 
 
I easily made it to the stadium and began the upward jaunt to the field. Coach Cole saw me coming and headed out to greet me. He welcomed me and we visited for a while. It’s always great to visit with the coaches. The excitement and love of their job and team always show through in their conversations. Not everyone can do what they do day in and day out and be successful. The hours alone would do most of us in, not to mention the weather they work in. After our visit, I got an interview with him and back to work he happily went. 
 
The field sits on a level area at the crest of a hill and the sidelines tapper downward. Very roomy sidelines too. I enjoyed getting close to the fence and shooting up at the team from a distance. Don’t often get a chance at photos like that. 
 
You have to love the color orange in the afternoon sun. It just pops! Lots of orange everywhere; shoes, helmets, shorts, Gatorade coolers, even the Polaris Ranger was orange that carried the supplies. The sun just bounced off of the orange and made for some bright colorful photos.
 
They worked on reading keys and running plays while I was there. It’s interesting to listen and watch how different coaches teach the game. No two do it exactly the same just like no two teachers in the classroom teach exactly the same. Everyone is different and bring varied experiences and ideas to the field.
 
After I had plenty of photos and heat, I headed back to the car. I did a quick drive around the school and town. Avalon is a nice town and seems to have some industry to help keep it thriving. Something so many 1A towns are missing these days. As I headed out of town, I said goodbye to the stadium on the hilltop. Hopefully, sometime soon, I can see it lighting up the night sky. 
 
See you on the sidelines!
Dency