Football journey

 

Brayden played tackle football for the first time this year.  I may or may not have "talked him into it" by telling him "all of his friends are playing".  He was excited for practices and the first two games and then everything changed with his attitude towards the sport.  He wouldn't play it at recess, he would cry before practices because he didn't want to go and he wanted to quit.  Quitting wasn't an option so we just tried to encourage him to play and be with his friends and do his best. 

 

He played on a 3rd/4th grade team, resulting in a large team.  He hardly had any playing time during the games, hence his negative relationship with the sport.  During the games, we would encourage Brayden to stand by the coach-ready to go in.  Then....he would be put in for two plays in the fourth quarter.  At every game, Kelly and I were heart broken with tears in our eyes as we watched Mason and Brayden wait and wait and follow their coaches around on the sidelines and then leave the games crushed.  Matt and Eric would be fired up that their boys weren't playing and it was just a tough spot to be in.  Do the angry parents approach the coaches?  Kelly, Eric, Matt and I would email each other discussing the matter and how to handle it.  Our boys deserved the opportunity to play.  Kelly contacted the two head coaches to open the door of communication on our behalf.  Discussions were had going both ways and we let it be known that we expected our boys to play in the championship game.  One coach even said, "do we go for the win or for the experience for the boys".  Our opinion, you play your team.  If they have a horrible experience their first year.....they won't play again.  That was a tragic thought to us.  Both Mason and Brayden were very emotional about getting suited up for the last game, "why should we go, we won't play"...."we're not good enough".  Heartbreaking.  We attend the last game, for the championship.  It is 10 am and barely 30 degrees outside with snow still on the ground.  We are praying for a good experience and for the coaches to take to heart the good intentions of the parents of these two sweet boys.

 

We were elated when our boys played every quarter, and more than a few plays each time.  They did awesome and worked hard and proved they did deserve to be there and they WERE good enough to be on that team!  The smiles on their faces said more than words could express.  I was in tears throughout the entire game because my heart was full of gratitude and happiness for a good experience.  In the end, their team lost the game receiving 2nd place in the league but Mason and Brayden didn't notice.  They played.  A lot.  They were on top of the world.  The first thing Brayden said to me after he received his medal was, "I can't wait to play next year".  That was all it took, a chance to play.  It meant a lot that the coaches took time to talk to each boy individually, and I know Brayden will always remember how he felt like a super star!

 

We had five boys from Dalton play on the team.  We'll miss Zack next year (he's in 4th grade) and the other four have many, many, many years of football together.  The boys had an "end of season" party and loved being with their teammates.  Kelly and I met with the two coaches after the party.  We knew having the meeting at the season seemed kind of "pointless" but we needed to be heard so that the same issues didn't happen next year for our kids or for those younger boys who will play for the first time next season.  It was emotional but successful.  The coaches have good hearts and good intentions.  Kelly and I felt we were pretty tough mommas speaking up for our boys.

It was definitely a football journey this season and we learned a lot and two eight year old boys now enjoy a great sport, hopefully for years to come.