Tag: Sports

Determination and Pride

Tomorrow Megan’s soccer team is playing in a soccer tournament.  Our township is hosting this one which is nice, short ride to the field and the ability to stop home between games if we want.  The tournament itself started tonight but her team has all 3 games tomorrow.

After an awful fall with no wins a tie and the rest losses, the coach made some changes.  First he brought on an assistant to help him to work more closely with the girls in practice.  The practices are definitely more high impact and the girls are more focused.  He also pointed out something that we all saw very clearly, our little girls were in terrible shape.  They would come onto the field full of steam to play but within a few minutes were out of gas.  By the second half our girls were flat-footed to put it nicely.

Do not misunderstand me, none of us parents cared about the losses but seeing 7-8 year olds unable to play for the full-time was concerning.  Twice a week in practice they now start and finish with a half mile run for a total of 1 mile.  The first time Megan had to complete the run we had tears, lots of them!  Before she even started she told me she would never be able to finish. It was tough for me to watch, I even went out and jogged part of the last lap with her to try to get her through.

It has been 4 weeks now and the results are showing.  The team’s record is 2-1-1 and they play much stronger.  With the tournament this weekend all of the fields have been closed in preparation.  Coach wanted to make sure the girls were focused so he had them show up at the park Thursday night for a run.  When we arrived we were informed that the distance would be 2 miles.  No timers, no winners just finish and NO walking.  Wow…I will admit I was worried.  I whispered in Megan’s ear a reminder, breath, pace yourself and do not worry about what anyone else is doing or where you are in the group just stay focused and finish.

I stood with the father of another girl from the team and we watched the girls pass us, (each lap is a half mile).  After the first mile I gave her a small drink and told her how great she was doing.  After the next lap she was struggling but on ward she went.  At the end of the fourth lap the coach patted each girl on the back as they came across told them to grab a water and walk one more for cool down.  I walked with her with pride.  My baby who literally almost collapsed the first run had just completed twice the distance with no tear and told me that although her legs felt like jelly she felt great!

I will admit that at first I thought the coach was a bit rough.  He was asking too much from little kids.  Sometimes it takes events like this to remind me, although I want to protect them from every ouch, every pain, I can not wrap them in bubble wrap.  The best way to protect them is to ensure that they are strong, healthy and confident.  I don’t know what the results of the games will be but I am sure that the girls will play hard and with confidence, and in the end that is all we could ever hope.

Spring time snow

What a crazy day. It has been snowing since first thing this morning and the news called for 2-5 inches of snow. The spring so far has been less than exciting. Freezing temperatures, wind,grey skies and now snow.

Saturday we sat for a soccer game in 25+mph winds and cold. The calendar may say spring but someone seems to have forgotten to tell the sun! At least the snow started early today so by 9 am I knew that soccer practice would be cancelled for the night. Instead I am sitting at karate watching the rain fall. Thankfully it has been too warm for the snow to lay on the roads. We probably have gotten over 3-4 inches on the grass before it changed to rain about an hour ago.dancing_snow_miser

As I sit here waiting for the kids, the snow miser song is running through my head. (Year without a Santa Claus). Maybe the brothers are battling and snowy refuses to give up. I am not sure what is going on but it would sure be nice if Mother Nature would have someone take a look at the calendar and turn on the sun.  I have really had enough of cold dreary days.

Megan’s soccer team is in a tournament this weekend. We were lucky to have all 3 games scheduled for Saturday. The news is calling for mid 50’s, light breeze and sun. My fingers are crossed. The bunny will arrive later that night,we would not want to see the little guy freeze!

Roller skates, basketballs and a big bottle of Tylenol

10020274One of the must have gift this year for both of the girls was roller skates.  I found it interesting since neither have ever skated before nor do we know anyone who does.  I loved the idea!  Good exercise, something they could do together and something not electronic. I remember as a kid skating in my basement in my white, metal wheeled skates.  The basement was really the only place you could skate with those metal wheels, hit a rock in the street and you went flying. Who ever thought metal wheels was a good idea?

So the girls received the skates from their aunt and uncle and both were thrilled.  Having wooden floors makes the house a small skating rink.  The day after Christmas and still in pajamas the skates were on and laced.  One at a time turns were taken holding my arm (tightly) as we went back and forth down the hall.  This lasted only until I was kicked so hard in the ankle I almost fell down.  Even with a death grip on my arm, neither of my balance challenged angels could stay on their feet.  The session lasted a few minutes until we agreed to take a break.

My ankle was sore for days!  That was the last time mommy stood anywhere near a child with wheels on their feet!

In between skating sessions, the make shift skating rink transforms into a basket ball arena for the new balls the girls received from their father.  The weather has been lousy here and over break there were battling flu/infections and viruses so we have been  basically stuck inside.  It is amazing the amount of thumping noise 2 basketballs can create. 12917515-illustration-of-a-basketball-mascot-walking

Over the passing days the balance on the skates has improved as has the ability to bounce the basketball.  Now they are running up and down the hall attempting to shoot it against my front door.   It is better than sitting around all day.  It is a nice break from the computer and Ipad activities.  I am sure that if they put the ball through a window my opinion may change, we will keep our fingers crossed!

My mother would never have approved :-).