When this season started (first for us), I only knew a handful of things about football. Literally, like, five.
1. Football season is in the fall.
2. A touch down is worth 6 points.
3. Football requires a lot of work.
4. Football players have shiny, padded pants, and they're my favorite!
5. ....just kidding about the fifth one...I really only knew four. ;)
Anyway, August rolled around and we got the phone call (or maybe it was a text) that started the season off. We were instructed to go to the place where the equipment was kept and pick up our necessary things. Steven took Big D to pick up her gear and I took Middle D...three trips and a pant swap later and we were ready to do this!
Our first practice was on the hottest day of the year. Temperatures were well in to the 100's and I was sweating my shorts off just sitting out side watching them. The first practice was all about stretching, physical work outs, and stretching while wearing a helmet. That was a Monday. Practice lasted from 6 p.m. to right around 9 p.m.! I was very shocked to find out that this was "normal" and that every practice would last this long! We did this every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for nine, very long and exhausting weeks!
The first game was a home game. My kids played a whole 5 minutes combined! I was so disappointed! They worked so hard for so long and they barely go to play! That day, we decided, that if the next game was like that, that we would be good ole quitters! Were all about some team spirit and all...but seriously??
Their next game was like a two hour drive and I was really hesitant about taking them but I am so glad that I did! They played a lot more than they did at the first one! And it just got better and better as the season went along.
I'll be the first to admit that, for a while, Big D and I literally hated going to practice! The boys on her team treated her like she didn't belong and for the most part acted like she didn't exist. She cried big alligator tears on more than one occasion because she was so frustrated (and probably exhausted). She begged to quit (though she didn't really want to, she just wanted acceptance). She was lonely and I was sad. Steven "made" us keep on truckin' and I'm so glad he did. We ended up loving it and the boys eventually starting treating her like a valuable-ish team member.
Middle D, on the other hand, loved football from the start! He loved being a line backer and he was really good at it! He played a lot of defense and a little bit of offense. He didn't like being offense because he "couldn't wrap them up and tackle them". He could only "push them really hard" and it just wasn't his thing. (: At the games, his name was called over that speaker just about every play he played in. He was serious about being serious!
 |
| "Hey, guys. I promise to behave my eight year old impulsive self to the best of my ability. Yeah, we'll be all sportsman like and have good conduct or whatever. And by the way, we call tails as in were gonna kick your tails. What? that's not sportsman conduct? Oh, well, I promise to start over, right now...but we still call tails!" |
They all in all had a really fun time with football. They really loved the parade's they got to participate in and Big D loved the idea of her jersey. They don't tell you exactly how hard you have to work for that jersey. But seriously, it's hard work.
Friday's were always looked forward to because they got to wear their jerseys to school.
So, five more things I learned about football.
1. Football Mama's are in a category of their own. They rock bedazzled t-shirts and matching cow bells!
2. The position "safety" is the team's "last hope" and "line backer" is someone who is very aggressive and tackles people (i think)...at least my line backer was/is.
3. Football players do not get to eat dinner until after 9 p.m. because if they eat before practice, they will surely vomit on the practice field and all over their jerseys and helmets and shoes .... so anyway they and their families don't eat till very late.
4. Most football Mama's are on the healthier side because they're like me and don't want to leave their child's side, while at practice, just in case something happens. And maybe they're evolving nice, round, cushy bottoms to better accommodate themselves while sitting on those cold, hard bleachers for what seems like weeks on end!
5. Football is hard work. It takes lots of support from the whole family in order for the season to run smoothly. It is an amazing experience and I am so glad Big D and Middle D got to experience it!
More to come!
Happy Thursday, Everyone!
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