Children and Sports

I love watching my young boys play sports. That is not to say that I love ALL sports, but that I do enjoy sitting in the stands and cheering them on while they move their little bodies around the field, court, or mat. I have figured out why these events can be so enjoyable and wanted to share my epiphanies with you. Those of you who enjoy these events will probably agree with the findings.

First, there is nothing like watching a group of young ones attempt to hit a ball with a bat, or catch a ball with a large, wide, stiff leather extension on their hand. Why do we wonder why some children prefer to wear the glove on their heads? Frankly, it just feels better up there, fits better up there, and allows their hands to better grab at the bugs in the grass, pick their noses, or itch parts of their bodies that can remain nameless. Second, the child up to bat always wants to smack the ball out of the park, so for them, that means they keep their eye somewhere in the far vicinity of the park, and not on the ball ("Visualize WHERE you want the ball to go, not where it actually IS"). By the 10th attempt at young persons slow pitch, the tee is dragged from the sideline and placed in front of the humiliated child only to be swung at another few times before a connection is made. Lastly, I enjoy watching the flying ball as it either rolls between 3 players' legs before being stopped, or is hit and drops between the 3 players that are standing in a huddle attempting to catch it.

In basketball, I am currently watching my 4th grade son and his team improve and win a few tournament games. One of my favorite plays is the one where the child attempts to shoot the ball into the basket from one side of the basket only to have it totally go in an arc over to a player way on the other corner of the basket. We parents in the stands refer to this play as a "good pass." I also love watching them try to dribble the ball and walk/run, all the while maneuvering the next play and talking to their teammates. Talk about multitasking! How come this doesn't seem to work at home? There seem to be games where I find that my son is mostly on the floor sliding around, then actually running from one end of the court to the other. Maybe his feet are growing.

Lastly, there's football. The tough skills to be mastered in this game fseem to be throwing the ball, catching the ball, and the always elusive good kick. Is there much else to this sport? My kids swear that the umpires must grease and shine those balls prior to every game. It's always great fun watching them run after the ball as it bounces and rolls across the ground, first one way, then the next. Funny how they all move as a group. Because my boys are in flag football, I also like it when one child has the ball, is running, and kids are diving left and right attempting to grab at the flags. They fall like flies at the feet of the child with the ball until the child triumphantly runs into the end zone and performs a touchdown dance while all his teammates gather around. Ah, the reward for a perfectly executed play.

These are the good times. GOOD TIMES! As they get older and better, it will no longer be as humorous, just exciting or disappointing. For now, it's great entertainment. Play Ball!!!