Calf sprain stops play

A couple of weeks ago, I turned up half-way through the second half of a Men's 1st XI match, prior to umpiring the following 3rd XI match, to notice that our captain, Warren, was on the sideline.  I asked him why he wasn't playing and he said he had a hamstring.  This is a problem I am familiar with so I helpfully said that the way I had avoided hamstring recurrence, was to wear thermal leggings, at which point I raised my shorts to show that I was indeed wearing said apparel.  Warren laughed and said he wouldn't be seen dead in tights, at which point, I sniffily remarked that he would in that case probably be spending a lot of time on the sidelines.

The 1sts finished and we prepared for our next match, Bob umpiring opposite me, and in due course the match commenced.  A few minutes before half-time a goal was scored and as I jogged back to the half-way line, my calf seized up.  Umpire injured stopped play for 5 minutes, and after resuming, I was only able to hobble a few paces.  After the match finished we went down to the clubhouse for some beer and tea, and Warren noticed me limping and, laughing, then asked why my thermals had failed me.  Sadly, I had no answer.

This week I had hoped my calf had healed, and I intended to play 3rds, but, (and even with thermals on), my calf went again after 10 minutes, and although I made a couple more attempts, my playing time was very limited.  Fortunately, the 3rds went on to record their first point of the season, equalising from a short corner with the very last hit of the game.  I gave a cheer, and I think I pulled my calf more.  However with the general excitement and relief and having at last earned a point, having come very close in several previous matches, the pain was soon forgotten.

Sunday I umpired a couple of games: our two U14 boys teams played each other and ended up a goal apiece in an end-to-end game, and then our U18 girls played Banbury in a super England Hockey match that our girls lost 2-3, but were pushing hard for the equaliser in the dying seconds, Hannah in goal having also saved a penalty flick.

So, my calf is still sore, and I'm still hobbling a bit, but I plan to give it another go on Saturday, after all, Christmas recovery time is just around the corner.  Anyway, if I can't play, a limping umpire is (contentiously) better than a not-so-smug thermally lined limping sweeper.