Showing posts with label football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label football. Show all posts
Saturday, November 22, 2008
2nd Annual Brody Turkey Bowl
Roughly twenty competitive boys playing flag football in 32degree weather, refereed by some dedicated, fun-loving dads, followed by some warm, tasty cookies and hot apple cider served up by Mom.........Mmm, mmm! That's the recipe for another very successful Brody Turkey Bowl!
Monday, September 29, 2008
More football...sorry!
Mark's team took on New Lenox on Saturday...and they won! The final score was something like 33-12. A very exciting game! That concludes their regular season with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses. Now we have a 'by' week, then on to the playoffs. Fun times.
Since we were all the way out in New Lenox for the game, we decided to grab some lunch as a family, when Mark's game finished, and then we returned to the field to catch the Varsity game (another slaughter win!) while Mark played around the bleachers with some of his teammates.
Lots of football families spend the entire day on the field, as they have several kids on the various team levels. Next year, Reese will be old enough to join Superlight, and Mark will continue to play on Lightweight, which means we will have 2 games to sit thru. Then, when Marina is 6, she will be old enough to cheer for Superlight...and by then Mark will be on Varsity, so we will be one of those families spending the entire day on the bleachers, supporting our kids.
I really don't mind tho. It's so fun to hang out with other football families, and cheer each others' kids on. And it's fun to see Reese and Marina proudly cheer for their big brother. It's also a good excuse for Ryan and I to sit close on the bleachers, like we did in high school, and share a pack of M&Ms or some nachos. lol. Good memories. Good times.
Since we were all the way out in New Lenox for the game, we decided to grab some lunch as a family, when Mark's game finished, and then we returned to the field to catch the Varsity game (another slaughter win!) while Mark played around the bleachers with some of his teammates.
Lots of football families spend the entire day on the field, as they have several kids on the various team levels. Next year, Reese will be old enough to join Superlight, and Mark will continue to play on Lightweight, which means we will have 2 games to sit thru. Then, when Marina is 6, she will be old enough to cheer for Superlight...and by then Mark will be on Varsity, so we will be one of those families spending the entire day on the bleachers, supporting our kids.
I really don't mind tho. It's so fun to hang out with other football families, and cheer each others' kids on. And it's fun to see Reese and Marina proudly cheer for their big brother. It's also a good excuse for Ryan and I to sit close on the bleachers, like we did in high school, and share a pack of M&Ms or some nachos. lol. Good memories. Good times.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Season Opener=Major Upset
It was the 2008 season opener last night. BEARS v COLTS.We invited friends over to watch the game. And being the only Colts fans in the house, Ryan and I proudly wore our Manning jerseys. We ate a lasagna dinner (thanks Heather!) and ate some football and helmet shaped sugar cookies that were frosted with each team's emblem (thanks Kristi!) But, after all the festivities, the final score was more than disappointing. (For Ryan and me, anyway). The Bears played an outstanding game! I'm interested in watching all their games this season. They seem to be on fire this year! Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know I live in Chicago...so I should be a Bears fan anyway. But, as much as I love my Colts and will forever be a faithful fan, I am very proud to be a Chicago-Bears fan at the moment. They deserved that win last night. Regardless of how upsetting it was for me....and poor depressed Ryan. :(
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Catching Up Part 2
This week, Mark had a rough time in football. He missed an entire week of practice while we were away at camp, and the very next day after returning home, he had to play in their first season game. The team seemed a bit unorganized, and they ended up losing the game. Sad day!
When the coaches reviewed the video footage of the game, they noticed that, among other players, Mark had not given much effort at all! So the following week of practice was like boot camp for the team. The coaches seemed to be on a mission to discipline these kids.
A couple of the coaches took it much too far, in my opinion. I don't mind them being tough with the kids, and working them hard so that they grow physically and mentally as players. But a couple of these coaches were using very raw words and were cutting these kids down personally, including Mark. They were saying things like, "Did you leave your brain back at camp?!" and "Come on girls, this isn't dance class!" and "What's wrong with you?! Pay attention!!"
Once in awhile, a comment like that is okay. But to keep hearing those coaches spewing words like that onto 9yr old kids...not cool. WE don't talk that way to our kids. Why would we let someone else?? What resulted was Mark giving almost zero effort in practice all week, and tears as he came off the field, so frustrated with the coaches, and finally, Ryan having to pull the coach aside and tell him to backoff!
Yesterday was game 2. Ryan and I did all we could to pump up Mark before the game. We encouraged him that this game is a chance to show his coaches that we've been practicing at home and that he's ready to be aggressive and focused out on the field. Mark was excited to get out there and show them. Unfortunately, he never got that chance. The coaches ripped his butt off first string and benched him for most of the game. They told him that if he wanted more gametime, he would have to show more effort at practice.
Again, Mark came off the field after the game (and incidentally...another loss), with tears and frustration. I felt so bad for him. But I also took that moment as a teaching tool.
You see, almost everything has come easy to Mark throughout his short lifetime. School is a piece of cake. He rarely has to study for tests and can easily pull off an A. Sports have also come easy for him. His husky size has made him a great lineman, and a first choice for coaches, no matter which team he's played on. He had walked into football as a 7yr old and was immediately placed on first string defense and offense (something the coaches told us they rarely do).
He then entered his 2nd yr of football, the biggest kid on the team who could almost effortlessly push a line of opposing players back off his QB. Now we enter Mark's 3rd season, which has required him to move up to a greater weight class, with new coaches, bigger kids, and a much greater skill level...yet again, they put him on first string offense and defense, while the rest of the 9yr olds that moved up with him are getting very little playtime.
For the first time, Mark is having to work his tail off in order to keep that first-string status. And he's getting benched for lack of effort. I think it's a very good lesson for Mark to learn. To have to work hard, through heat and muscle aches and shouting coaches, in order to obtain a desired priviledge. Kinda cool.
So, I pumped him up again, after yesterday's discouraging loss, and I told him that this next week in practice is another chance for him to blow his coaches away with his effort. He has the chance to earn his play-time back for the next game. And he has the opportunity to show himself what he can accomplish when he truly gives 100%. Our conversation lifted his spirits quite a bit. But I still didn't feel like it was enough, after such a tough, emotional week.
So, after dinner, I suggested that Mark and I hop in the car and return to the football field to catch the end of Varsity's game. When we got there, it was halftime, so we were able to watch quite a bit of the game. He was so excited to see the skill level those kids were at. As we sat there, he kept talking about what it will be like when he gets to that level. I thought that was really neat. It put a taste in his mouth for greater things, and showed his the reward that awaits, if he will only stick it out during these grueling, rough practices.
By fourth quarter, he noticed some of his teammates playing catch over past the bleachers, and he asked if he could go play with them. I said yes, and quietly sat and watched the rest of the Varsity game alone. I knew that it was probably just as beneficial for Mark to play with his teammates, on a friendly basis, and get to know them OFF the field. That will hopefully build comradery and loyalty, that will translate into even greater effort ON the field. He walked away from that day with a renewed excitement for the game of football, for time spent with his team, and heightened spirits that will hopefully bring him through another week of boot camp. LOL.
When the coaches reviewed the video footage of the game, they noticed that, among other players, Mark had not given much effort at all! So the following week of practice was like boot camp for the team. The coaches seemed to be on a mission to discipline these kids.
A couple of the coaches took it much too far, in my opinion. I don't mind them being tough with the kids, and working them hard so that they grow physically and mentally as players. But a couple of these coaches were using very raw words and were cutting these kids down personally, including Mark. They were saying things like, "Did you leave your brain back at camp?!" and "Come on girls, this isn't dance class!" and "What's wrong with you?! Pay attention!!"
Once in awhile, a comment like that is okay. But to keep hearing those coaches spewing words like that onto 9yr old kids...not cool. WE don't talk that way to our kids. Why would we let someone else?? What resulted was Mark giving almost zero effort in practice all week, and tears as he came off the field, so frustrated with the coaches, and finally, Ryan having to pull the coach aside and tell him to backoff!
Yesterday was game 2. Ryan and I did all we could to pump up Mark before the game. We encouraged him that this game is a chance to show his coaches that we've been practicing at home and that he's ready to be aggressive and focused out on the field. Mark was excited to get out there and show them. Unfortunately, he never got that chance. The coaches ripped his butt off first string and benched him for most of the game. They told him that if he wanted more gametime, he would have to show more effort at practice.
Again, Mark came off the field after the game (and incidentally...another loss), with tears and frustration. I felt so bad for him. But I also took that moment as a teaching tool.
You see, almost everything has come easy to Mark throughout his short lifetime. School is a piece of cake. He rarely has to study for tests and can easily pull off an A. Sports have also come easy for him. His husky size has made him a great lineman, and a first choice for coaches, no matter which team he's played on. He had walked into football as a 7yr old and was immediately placed on first string defense and offense (something the coaches told us they rarely do).
He then entered his 2nd yr of football, the biggest kid on the team who could almost effortlessly push a line of opposing players back off his QB. Now we enter Mark's 3rd season, which has required him to move up to a greater weight class, with new coaches, bigger kids, and a much greater skill level...yet again, they put him on first string offense and defense, while the rest of the 9yr olds that moved up with him are getting very little playtime.
For the first time, Mark is having to work his tail off in order to keep that first-string status. And he's getting benched for lack of effort. I think it's a very good lesson for Mark to learn. To have to work hard, through heat and muscle aches and shouting coaches, in order to obtain a desired priviledge. Kinda cool.
So, I pumped him up again, after yesterday's discouraging loss, and I told him that this next week in practice is another chance for him to blow his coaches away with his effort. He has the chance to earn his play-time back for the next game. And he has the opportunity to show himself what he can accomplish when he truly gives 100%. Our conversation lifted his spirits quite a bit. But I still didn't feel like it was enough, after such a tough, emotional week.
So, after dinner, I suggested that Mark and I hop in the car and return to the football field to catch the end of Varsity's game. When we got there, it was halftime, so we were able to watch quite a bit of the game. He was so excited to see the skill level those kids were at. As we sat there, he kept talking about what it will be like when he gets to that level. I thought that was really neat. It put a taste in his mouth for greater things, and showed his the reward that awaits, if he will only stick it out during these grueling, rough practices.
By fourth quarter, he noticed some of his teammates playing catch over past the bleachers, and he asked if he could go play with them. I said yes, and quietly sat and watched the rest of the Varsity game alone. I knew that it was probably just as beneficial for Mark to play with his teammates, on a friendly basis, and get to know them OFF the field. That will hopefully build comradery and loyalty, that will translate into even greater effort ON the field. He walked away from that day with a renewed excitement for the game of football, for time spent with his team, and heightened spirits that will hopefully bring him through another week of boot camp. LOL.
