The Dorsel Family Summer Games
Several years ago the six members of the Dorsel Family got tired of going on vacation and simply sitting on the beach and going to seafood restaurants. So we devised the concept of the "summer games" to fill the vacation with activities and provide some friendly competition among family members. This tradition has gone on for 6 years now and has provided a great deal of enjoyment as well as some other unexpected benefits.
THE FORMAT
The basic format is a decathlon (i.e., 10 events)
to include the following mix of physically demanding and mentally challenging
events: 2 mile run, 100 yard dash, 200 meter swim, 18 holes golf, 18-hole
putting contest, tennis, croquet, pool, gin rummy, poker. With six people
participating, 6 points was awarded to the winner of each event, 5 points to
second place, and so on down to 1 point for sixth place. This translates
into 60 points being the highest total possible for the decathlon.
With three males and three females in our family, the
youngest being 16 for the inaugural competition and the oldest in their 50s as
the competition reached its 5th year, each event by itself did not lend itself
to equal opportunity for all ages and genders. Nonetheless, the events
were not handicapped or adjusted in any way, other than that in the end
both a male and a female winner were recognized.
SPECIAL ASPECTS OF THE GAMES
The games, as they have come to be known,
are always kicked off with special opening ceremonies and ended with special
closing ceremonies. Responsibilities for these ceremonies and for the
organizing of the games for each given year rotated among the family
members. Of course, each family member tried to outdo the others in the
flamboyance of these ceremonies and add their special touches to the events.
The various years' games are commemorated by framed
narratives hung on the wall surrounding a plaque with the accumulating names of
each year’s male and female winners. This shrine to the games occupies a
highly visible place in our home where friends and family can view it
throughout the year. Needless to say, the games are a regular topic of
conversation as family members are chided about staying in shape and honing
their skills for the upcoming year's competition.
The most important aspect of the games is that the family is
drawn together at least once per year from the members increasingly separate
individual lives. The Dorsel family is proud of the games and intends to
keep them going in some evolving form for years to come.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUMMER GAMES
If you would like to receive a detailed copy of the format of the games, as well as score sheets and an example of the post-game narrative, send your request along with $20 to cover the cost of preparation, copying, postage and handling to:
Serious Sports
2501 Keswick Road
Florence, SC 29501
For more information: Contact Serious Sports at 843-618-4653 or email tom@dorsel.com
For information on other sport
psychology topics from Dr. Tom Dorsel, click on any of the following:
Books and Articles
Private Consultation
Group Seminars
Television Appearances
Brief Biosketch
Resumé
Return to Home Page