Cam starts TACKLE football tomorrow

[binny]

OMGOSH I am one nervous mommy!

I *know* this will be good for him I *know* he needs this, he has only been to soccer camp and played in school sports before this. This is his first foray into organized group sports.
He isnt a real tough kid if you know what I mean, my brother said this will " toughen him up" thats not why were doing it obviously but I do want him to have the experience of being part of a team. So much of his life is in individual things ( chess tourneys and the like) that I think he needs to learn to work with others and I think it will help him grow up to be a more well rounded person!


I asked if he wanted to play and he jumped all over it. He is really excited for it and yesterday we went and bought all his gear ( still reeling from the sticker shock there ) he got all dressed up in his uniform last night and he looks like such a man!!
I really hope this goes well for him!

Im kind of nervous though, what a sport "break into"

ack.

All of a sudden Kaylee's dance stuff doesnt seem so expensive anymore either LOL

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

My DS has been playing tackle football since kindergarten. He is now starting his 7th season and he loves it. I know the equipment is pricey, but we have always supplied equipment for DS--even though the team supplies it included in the team fee--because we want to make sure he has good quality equipment that fits him properly. Good choice to purchase equipment for your DS.

Best of luck to your DS. I hope you have a great season. Football is my favorite time of the year. I love being a football mom. At a scrimmage yesterday I saw that one of the other parents had brought an 8 foot ladder to sit on so he could actually see the game. I thought "what a great idea!" DH just did one of these .

 

[binny]

Thanks


I am looking forward to being a football mom ( and a dance mom busy year!) they have a big Jamboree where they get to play on the University field. Thats a BIG deal for them
Anyway he's wearing his gear again so I think hes really excited

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Its good that he is wearing his gear since it takes a bit of getting used to manuervering around with all of that stuff on. This year we had to move DS (who is only 11 ) into the varsity shoulder pads and he is having difficulty adjusting to them (he keeps reminding me that they weigh 10 pounds!) even though he has played football for several years and has never had a problem with shoulder pads.

Okay--a funny equipment story. Another mom from my son's school had her 6th grader in football for the first time last year. He is a slight kid and was so top heavy in his helmet that he fell over I don't think you can go anywhere but up from there. He went on to have a pretty decent season.

 

[binny]

LOL well its good to know that mishaps happen and they can still turn it around

 

[mickeyboat]

My friend's son started football this year. He is going into 3rd grade and the program lumped 3-6 grade together. He is very athletic and loves all sports, but he did not like football. He was excited about starting but after the first practice, he was in tears. I don't know if he was intimidated about having older kids there or not knowing anyone else, or not knowing the rules of the game. Maybe he was afraid of being tackled or injured.

I think he will try again next year, but football was not right for this kid.

Denae

 

[binny]

Thats what I like about this program, they are all the same age. 9 year olds are Freshman 10 year olds are Sophmores etc.

I also like that htey all go to the same school. I think that makes for more unity (I hope)

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Welcome to the football family, binny! Be prepared to have days when you love it and hate it, and days when Cam will love it and hate it. Also be prepared for the "Mom, I hate this so much I want to quit" speech that may come after a particularly difficult practice......I would always tell my sons to think about it until after the next game, and usually in their post-game cheer, they decided it was more good than bad.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about it myself. I dislike that the football parents are extraordinarily clique-y.....for the first 2 years, I was barely spoken to by the most of the other parents, who all seemed to know one another and socialized together off-field. (and I'm not a shy person). However, I am there for my kids, not for me, so I can put that aside. I try now to welcome new parents and strike up convos if they are alone, and most will eventually express relief because they'd been feeling kinda left out.

Be prepared for a VERY tired young man at the end of practice!! In our league, they work them very, very hard. For my youngest (who is the 4, 5, 6 grade league) practice is 2 hours a night, 3 nights a week. For my older boy (7 & 8 grade league) practice is 3 hours a night, 5 days a week (practices are shorter once school starts).

Oh yes--if he eats before practice, make sure it is only a light meal or energy bar--too much food in your tummy can make for a VERY uncomfortable practice! My boys will usually have a piece of fruit and an energy bar or some ramen noodles about an hour before practice. And make sure you bring lots and lots of water for him to drink!

Also, if you don't already have them, those collapsible camp chairs can be a life-saver. 6 hours in the bleachers on game day can be tough on the the tush! Those chairs are much more comfortable, plus you can move them in or out of the sun as it moves.

 

[binny]

Thank you so much for the tips BK! I really appreciate them
Its always good to know how others do things like this.

I know what you mean about the "cliqu-ey" parents, I felt that way last year in the GATE program. It was really bad. I was such an outsider!
This year its a new school, everyone is new to this school, so it *should* be easier I hope.

anyway, back to topic, I will be sure to dig out my camp chair! LOL

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Just checking in to see how practice went last night, binny!

 

[binny]

Thanks for checking in BK actually he didnt wind up starting last night. No one ever called us!

( I had a bad day yesterday)


I called every number I could find and finally got the commiossioner, he pointed me in the right direction so we should be able to start tonight. Cam was really dissapointed.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Oh, poor guy! Good luck to both of you with practice tonight--let us know how it goes!!

 

[binny]

OK he's all set to start tonight Ill let you know how it goes. Its from 6:30 to 8 pm


They have to have 8 practices in before the Jamboree on the 28th.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Yep, practices go late in the summer months, that's for sure! My 12 y.o. has his Jamboree this coming Sunday; my 10 y.o. has his on the 29th. I'll bet Cam is just climbing the walls right now! (Just a word of warning--He may feel a little differently about the "cool equiptment" after he has to run laps in it! ) But I do love how they look on game day--all spiffy little men in their uniforms! Thank goodness the game pants are black....the practice pants are white...well, they are the first day they get them....lol...after that, the color defies description. If you've got whites, invest in some Oxy-type wash additive!)

 

[geffric]

I just saw tnhis tread.. I am too a new footbal MOM.. the boys have been soccer players for all these years... but my baby is now gonna be a football star.. He is starting 6 th grade.. they are practicing 5 night a week from 5PM to 7:30pm.. then once september starts and they have games they will practice 3 times per week..


Oddly I can relate to being the new MOM to the team as most of the kids played together last year.. but atr least one of the boys was on eric's indoor soccer team a few years ago.. so I starting talking to them.. and then saw another MOM that we had known pre school.. ( no the kids did not remember each each but I remembered the MOM, so I was sometone to talk to)..

Thanks for the tip on OxyWash.. I'll get the this weekend as his practice pants are white..

 

[ZachnElli]

Originally posted by binny
[B
I also like that htey all go to the same school. I think that makes for more unity (I hope) [/B]

No they don't! Do the rest of them all go to Cam's school?

 

[binny]

LOL ok MOST of them go to the same school


I think she said 3 of the guys go to school with Zach... hows he feeling?

 

[sue1013]

My son is on triple sessions this week. 8am-11am break till 1, then 1-4, another break till 6-8. He's a senior in hs so used to it by now. Next week they will just practice 4 hrs a day until the day school starts Sept 9. Once they are back in school he leaves at 7am school starts at 7:30 doesn't get home till 8pm. It will be sad watching him play his last year, he started at 8 yrs.

 

[ZachnElli]

Originally posted by binny

I think she said 3 of the guys go to school with Zach... hows he feeling?

Ok, but he's not wanting to go. I think we have a major case of nerves. Monday morning is not going to be fun either! (for school) It's not easy being the new kid!

 

[binny]

He'll be ok once he gets out there with Cameron dont you think? I bet he'll have fun~!