A simple pleasure...kids sports

[Brodirt]

My 7 year old had her first soccer game today and what a pure pleasure it was. She isn't very good yet and just finished her 10 week clinic in the spring, but she's a tough kid and a gamer.

The first three quarters were a bit ugly...our team ran rampant over the other girls. We had top to bottom team speed on them and at this stage I can see that speed means almost everything. Anyway, things were a bit ugly for my daughter too. She didn't seem to be very involved and was distracted by whatever, although I expected that.

Anyway, with the score 7-0 at the start of the fourth quarter my little one became a different kid. She turned on the afterburners in both her speed, which she has when she wants to have it, but more importantly, her attention. She pushed the play intensely and had three almost field length runs, with the ball (and even some passing), that ended with nice saves by the goalie.

Finally, on the 4th run (I couldn't believe she had the endurance) she netted a goal and was ecstatic.

After the game I asked her what happened...why the change? She told me that the game was getting close to the end and that she hadn't done enough to help out her team who worked so hard getting all those other goals and didn't want it to be her fault if they lost.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a pleasure.

 

[Ceezer]

Oh, welcome to a whole new world...

My daughter is 8 and played softball earlier this year (late spring/early summer; I don't know why we don't have a fall league around here like the grown-ups do) for the first time. I didn't really work with her that much because I just wanted her to have fun and experience it first, but I did show her the basic stance and how to swing from the hips, not the shoulders).

It was really fun watching her transition over those 10 or so games. She didn't like fielding at first and thought it was boring, as probably every kid does, but by mid-season she had earned a permanent spot at shortstop and was making stops & tagging runners. Man it was so awesome! She's good on the stick, too, but needs to learn to put some more power behind her swing. The sweet thing about her, though, is that she's left-handed but can swing from either side of the plate. She batted left-handed the first 3 games, switched to the other side for a few games, then finished back up at lefty. I wish we could get her more practice (actually games, not just tossing to her in the back yard) because I smell scholarship money...

I'm one of those parents that gets all into it, too. I'm screaming like a giddy little school girl when there's a sweet catch or an amazing hit, and I'm yelling to charge the ball when they miss the stop or to run faster when they're trotting between bases. And I don't mean just at my daughter, I mean all the girls... Some of the parents think it's funny and love it, some looked at me funny at the start of the season but learned to accept it (I was never mean or angry towards the girls, just aggressive in my cheering). Heh, some of the girls would even come to me after the game to see if I saw them do ___ or how they could ___ better.

It really is fun watching them learn the game and learn to play as a team and not just for themselves. Fun stuff!!

 

[Johnnie Walker]

I gotta say something even though i don't have any little guys of my own yet. Looking back at the 15+ years of hockey i played as a youth I can appreciate what my Father did for me. There was never a hesitation or a thought of not coming to one of my games. This rings true for: 4am practices in snowstorms, Father son games and weekends away in other cities... they're some of the fondest memories I have with spending my Dad. I wouldn't trade any of these memories for anything and it's great to see that this passion is still alive in you guys. I hope that one day i can be the kind of guy my Father was (and still is) to me. So to the Fathers and Fathers to be reading this, know that your children appreciate this more than you can imagine.

Cheers to the great Fathers, but especially to my own!!!

 

[Emmett]

It's nice when parents are there to support the kids and not pressure them. You hear so many horror stories about beligerrent parents harassing coaches and refs and putting down their own kids. Good for every parent who goes for their kids and not for themselves.

 

[paulboeck]

That's awesome! My 5yr old is just starting to get interested in soccer so I hope that next spring/summer, I can get her started too.

 

[mparker762]

A simple pleasure...kids sports

That's what Roman Polanski thought.

badabing!

 

[Monkeydad]

I have umpired for years and coached my nephew's Tee-ball team to an undefeated championship (Yes, I kept score) and helped coach his other teams too. I started teaching my nephew who lived with me how to play baseball at age 2 and he ended up being an all-star pitcher and home run hitter.

Kids' sports are fun, not only to watch but to be involved in.

Now that I have a 2-YO son, I am excited for getting him involved ASAP. He's already showing some real athletic promise and better yet...he seems to be favoring his LEFT hand when throwing. Left-handed pitchers are always a premium!

OK, I'll calm down but I agree.

 

[tpoof]

That's what Roman Polanski thought.

badabing!

indeed... pray for justice to be served.. it will be.. one way or another

On the other hand kids in sport is a great thing..
learning the thrill of victory and to be gracious in defeat..
to be happy with just being able to be playing the game..
but it also can be a real eye opener for the kids when watching *the parents* get all carried away with emotion...
it *can* get ugly and is every parents duty to be civil and upstanding in the *heat of the battle*

 

[Sue]

I absolutely LOVE watching kids development evolve in sports and learn to be part of a 'team'. Wendy started fast pitch at about 8 years old and continued to varsity HS as DH and 3rd base. The love of the game continued into adulthood and she played on both womens and co-ed leagues.

My middle son; same thing with football, started when the boys looked like helmets with feet running around the field and played thru HS.

Now it's the grandkids, one in her 2 year of soccer (goalie), the boy in his 5th year of football in 6th. grade jr. varsity (nose).

I've seen my share of ignorant screaming confrontations on the field involving parents. I feel sorry for the embarrassment to the child and the extrordinairily poor lesson being taught to the child.

There are so many valuable lessons learned by being a team player, it's a shame there are a few who "don't get it".

The one concern I do have is to their bodies. My son once broke his wrist in the first quarter and the coach had him play the rest of the game. I wonder if the damage just repaired in Wendy's right shoulder is years of whipping a ball in and swinging a bat. My grandson and the opponent on the line really bucked heads last week and they were both knocked for a loop. That's the only part of sports I do not like at all.

Sue

 

[Monkeydad]

I absolutely LOVE watching kids development evolve in sports and learn to be part of a 'team'. Wendy started fast pitch at about 8 years old and continued to varsity HS as DH and 3rd base. The love of the game continued into adulthood and she played on both womens and co-ed leagues.

My middle son; same thing with football, started when the boys looked like helmets with feet running around the field and played thru HS.

Now it's the grandkids, one in her 2 year of soccer (goalie), the boy in his 5th year of football in 6th. grade jr. varsity (nose).

I've seen my share of ignorant screaming confrontations on the field involving parents. I feel sorry for the embarrassment to the child and the extrordinairily poor lesson being taught to the child.

There are so many valuable lessons learned by being a team player, it's a shame there are a few who "don't get it".

The one concern I do have is to their bodies. My son once broke his wrist in the first quarter and the coach had him play the rest of the game. I wonder if the damage just repaired in Wendy's right shoulder is years of whipping a ball in and swinging a bat. My grandson and the opponent on the line really bucked heads last week and they were both knocked for a loop. That's the only part of sports I do not like at all.

Sue

As a guy who grew up playing on sports teams (baseball and basketball), the injuries were worth the lessons of working hard, being a team member and leader and the fun memories.

Sure I have to wear my wedding band on my right hand because my left ring finger looks like a mangled hockey goalie's finger from being nailed by a pitch...and my knees crack...and the back of my head has a few bumps, and I have a titanium forearm and am missing a joint in one thumb and am full of screws, but hey, I was an athlete.

 

[Sue]

As a guy who grew up playing on sports teams (baseball and basketball), the injuries were worth the lessons of working hard, being a team member and leader and the fun memories.

Sure I have to wear my wedding band on my right hand because my left ring finger looks like a mangled hockey goalie's finger from being nailed by a pitch...and my knees crack...and the back of my head has a few bumps, and I have a titanium forearm and am missing a joint in one thumb and am full of screws, but hey, I was an athlete.

Your attitude makes me smile .

Can you even count how many times you've heard 'walk it off''? Probably as many times as I've said it to my kids, grandkids and even myself.

I totally agree with you. These are valuable life lessons instilled at a young age along with memories to last a lifetime. Is the price paid worth it? Only that person can decide in the end.
Sue

 

[Dennis]

My oldest is 4 and a half and started in T-ball which was not really his flavor. Lots of downtime. So we have him in soccer now which is much better for young kids. The program is a lot better organized too. It is great fun watching your children in these leagues. I hope he continues to have fun and wants to play.

 

[BROWNS]

This is something I've absolutely grown to love. In high school I participated in baseball, football, and wrestling (also swimming, but not competatively).

I graduated in 2007 and have since found youth sports to be a great way to continue to be involved with community sports. My high school baseball teammate and I coached a local T-ball team this summer, and I also helped my dad coach his middle school baseball team (which my younger brother was on). I'm away at school, but I've been helping my dad here and there coach a 12-13 year old football team (which my brother is also on) and am loving that as well.

I know this was sort of a pointless post since most of you are discussing your own kids' sports, but take it from me if you love sports and being involved I'd highly recommend looking into volunteer coaching, I love it.

 

[Sue]

This is something I've absolutely grown to love. In high school I participated in baseball, football, and wrestling (also swimming, but not competatively).

I graduated in 2007 and have since found youth sports to be a great way to continue to be involved with community sports. My high school baseball teammate and I coached a local T-ball team this summer, and I also helped my dad coach his middle school baseball team (which my younger brother was on). I'm away at school, but I've been helping my dad here and there coach a 12-13 year old football team (which my brother is also on) and am loving that as well.

I know this was sort of a pointless post since most of you are discussing your own kids' sports, but take it from me if you love sports and being involved I'd highly recommend looking into volunteer coaching, I love it.

You are wrong, it it not pointlesss.

You bring up a very good point and one you should be proud of and that is volunteering to coach and teach or share you knowledge of sportsmanship and being a team player.

This reminds me of something that has been on my mind for several days. There is a boy that is basically the scourge of the neighborhood. I didn't know anything about him until just recently. He and two friends were walking down the street to a girls house whose parents are at work. I guess them about 13 or 14 y/o. A comment by someone I was with; 'wonder what "he's" doing over here?

I then found out he's a known troublemaker. During his most recent escapade he was caught by the resident 'dad' stealing a new skateboard out of his backyard. Dad ran after him and caught him, saying 'where's your dad, I want to talk to him; the boy's response: he's in jail'.

I've thought about this boy since. Who could make a differance in this kids life? What could help him have self-esteem, worth and turn him around? A coach, a mentor or good adult friend?

What you are doing is 'giving' and you never know what difference and/or value you will add to a youngster. Keep up the good work!
Sue

 

[The Knize]

We spent a lot of time on youth sports with my two sons, and it was worth every effort that went into it. Or better put, it paid back way more than any of us put into it.

 

[Argonaut]

I whole heartedly support little league sports, literally and figuratively. I have 9 year old triplets, an eight year old and a five year old. I currently coach third grade football, have another in 4th grade football two daughters in soccer and one boy taking golf lessons. I've coached baseball for the boys and softball for the girls. I have found nothing as rewarding that you can do with your time. As long as your doing it for the kids and not trying to re-live your dreams it can be a meaningfull contribution to your children and other kids. I am constantly suprised by how many people, that I don't know personally, tell me how much they appreciate us coaches. The ones that hate us never suprise me!

 

[Mojo88]

My son and I were jogging on Sunday and during the cool down we were talking sports. He made the comment that we never embarrassed him or his brother by yelling at the refs or complaining to a coach. We always tried to let the kids have fun. The turning point to fun was after our oldest son's baseball game. We were in the kitchen after the game discussing poor calls and mostly just complaining. I looked outside and noticed the kids were in the pool playing and having a good time. The only ones upset about the game were the parents. I decided then and there if the kid's could forget the game then so should we.
I remember the ultra competitive parents that thought their kids would go pro..none of them did. A coach put it to me this way, " You have a better chance of becoming an astronaut that a professional athlete" Of all the kids in all the districts my son's competed against 3 made it to the pros. That's thousands of kids over the years. Sports are great and I enjoyed those times. It allowed us to become close as a family and we still share that bond with sports.

 

[Henrique]

After the game I asked her what happened...why the change? She told me that the game was getting close to the end and that she hadn't done enough to help out her team who worked so hard getting all those other goals and didn't want it to be her fault if they lost.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a pleasure.

Wow. My first son (actualy a daugther ) will be born on December. I would be very proud If, one day, she said something like that...

 

[kwk285]

I have two daughters. Neither have been into sports too much.

At the elementary school that they both attended they had a unicycle team. These kids worked their buts off to learn all these different skills. Once they mastered a certain amount of skill, they qualified to perform with the team. This team performed at half times at various half times at college basketball games, pro games around the puget sound.

The pride that I saw in their faces as they mastered a tough skill was something a parent loves to see. Sports can bring out the best in kids.

 

[The Knize]

. . . I am constantly suprised by how many people, that I don't know personally, tell me how much they appreciate us coaches. The ones that hate us never suprise me!

Geez, you should not be surprised at how many people tell you they appreciate you coaches. And many more appreciate you that may not say. The appreciation is probably deeper than you are fully aware of. Virtually anyone close to their kids sports--whcih means virtually all parents, because youth sports is not an activity that has no parental involvement-- has an appreciation for how much a coach almost necessarily puts into it.

I appreciated all of the coaches my kids ever had, and there is a very special place in my heart for the best of them. My kids learned a vast amount of things from the latter on a plethora of matters, and, frankly, I did to. And those coaches will be remembered for it, by parents and kids forever really!


And I bet that very few actually hate you even among those that seem that they do--unless you are a jerk, and there are some coaches out there that are jerks, no doubt about it! and if you are one of those, I doubt that you would care if someone hated you, or at least you expect it! I would not take it personally in any event.