Nods and volleys

In a recent game of nods and volleys with friends we made a rule that if the goalkeeper concedes 3 goals then they have to buy the scorer of the 3rd goal a cup of coffee.

This incentive brings with it a certain tension.

Because when the group is on 2 goals and moving in for the kill, an excitement creeps in.

But funnily enough the number of shots goes down as well.

I should explain – a missed shot or saved shot means that the group goes back to zero and the shot taker becomes the goalkeeper.

A missed shot after 2 goals also prompts a collective groan from the group as they express their disappointment at the slate being wiped clean.

A new goalkeeper means back to 0 goals.

But back to the point!

Fewer shots taken.

This, I believe, is because the pain of failure outweighs the joy of the reward.

No one wants to risk annoying the group AND exposing themselves to ‘losing’ (buying coffee) so they pass. Hoping someone else will be less risk averse.

Buying your own coffee is preferable to the potential embarrassment of being labelled this week’s ‘loser’.