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| July 17, 2013
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Sportsmanship Is For Everyone

One of the greatest times in my life was the 5 years I spent coaching T-Ball and Little League baseball.  There is no greater joy for a parent or coach than seeing the look in a young persons eye when they first hit a pitch, catch that fly ball or score a run.

“Did you see that Dad”?!  “I did it Mom, I did it”!  Hearing those words as a coach is all the payment required for giving up your weekends and evenings.  Which is a good thing since we never received any payment.  Like a Dolphin at Sea World, we work for the fish we are thrown.

Children are a sponge just waiting to absorb all we have to teach.  Unfortunately, when it comes to sports, not all lessons would have Ghandi or Mother Teresa waving pom poms in your corner.  As a coach, you must also serve as an umpire for the games.  I once ejected one of my own players for trying to trip a runner as he crossed home plate.  After the game, I was verbally threatened and had my car window broken.  All in view of the child.  What lesson was learned on that day?

Albert Einstein once said, “Everybody is a genius.  But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree,  it will live its life believing it is stupid”. This is never more true than when dealing with children involved in sports.

If every child was phenomenal at sports, we would not have any doctors, chefs, mechanics or Little League weekend volunteer coaches.  Still it comes to pass that verbal disappointment yelled from the stands can, and does, undo any lesson of teamwork the child may have learned or any love of the game that the child might have had.

Look at a group of kids playing basketball in a park, or baseball in a field with no supervision and see them laughing.  Throw one condescending parent into that mix and watch them all tense up to the point of failure.

Sports are a bonding opportunity for children and parents alike.  One of the first team building experiences we have in our lives.  Arguably one of the most important.  All of our focus as parents should be to ensure it is a healthy one.  At least I believe it as such.

by Chip Byers

Category: Life Lessons, Talking Points | Tags: ,
| July 15, 2013
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Notre Dame Football Camp – Its Not Hot Out Here

A few weeks ago Kaden had the opportunity to attend Notre Dame Football Pictures for blog (1) 013Camp and I was able to watch one day of camp. I was very impressed with the camp overall. It was organized, had good skill building drills, and the Coaches and players were very committed to the kids.

I was most impressed with one of the Assistant Coaches that took the time to speak with the campers. He started out the speech by asking if “anyone was hot”? The majority of campers raised their hands. He then proceeded to tell them that “they were not hot, that it was a balmy 80 degrees in South Bend, IN and it was not hot”! He went on to tell them that anyone could convince themselves they were hot and tired but assured them that someone sitting next to them was not hot, and not tired. His point being that the competition starts now and there is someone out there that is willing to work harder than you to achieve their goals. He also lectured the parents a bit for convincing the young campers that they were indeed hot and tired. Of course I am positive (along with the 500 other parents) that he was not speaking to me 🙂

Some parents may have been offended by this speech but I thought it was great. Playing football at Notre Dame or any major college takes a lot of hard work, and those that are consistently hot and tired will get weeded out along the way. Yes natural ability never hurts but most people achieve greatness through hard work along with convincing themselves that they can keep going and fight through the pain. Please be assured that I am not saying you can’t take a  water break, or rest if you need to (and neither was the coach). What he was saying is to push yourself, to be your best, because it’s a guarantee that someone else is already doing so.

by Stacey Atkinson

Category: Life Lessons | Tags: ,
| July 12, 2013
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Vacation

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Mother and Son Sports will return Monday July 15th!

Until then enjoy this tune from the Go Go’s!

 

Category: Misc. |
| July 10, 2013
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Start Out Small and Have Them Look for the Golf Ball

Golf is a difficult sport to learn, it takes focus and coordination just to makeIMG_6706 contact and actually get the ball to take flight. It also tends to be a bit difficult to teach kids golf because it takes patience and they are not going to see immediate results.

Are you itching to get out on the golf course with your kids? Then here are a few tips that I have taken from my Dad (who taught me).

1. Start by having  your son or daughter look for golf balls. They can search through the weeds, or by the ponds while you are taking your next shot. Now make sure you watch for poison ivy, and let’s be careful around bodies of water. Also make sure that your son or daughter remains behind you when you are hitting the ball (yes I know you are an expert, but even the best mess up sometimes).

When my Dad took me at around 5 or 6 I spent the whole round searching for golf balls. It was a win win, I had fun, my Dad got to play nine holes and we came out with 5-10 golf balls each round. Eventually I became more interested in the game by just being out on the course and wanted to start learning.

2. Please do not bring your kid out to the course during the busy hours. This will tick the regulars off and nobody is going to have any fun. It’s very difficult to teach someone when you have a foursome breathing down your neck. Take your son or daughter out during the evening hours, or when you know the course is going to be less busy. By doing this you can take the time to hit an extra few shots and actually have some teaching moments.

3. Five iron and a putter. That is all you need to start your son and daughter out with. Don’t go all out and buy them a pitching wedge, sand wedge and seven wood. They don’t need to have Tiger Woods arsenal of clubs at age 8. My Dad taught me with these two clubs. I hit the crap out of a five iron for a good few years. Make sure they get their swing and mechanics down first, then you can move up in clubs.

4. Drive the golf cart! My Dad and I walked the course most of the time but every now and then we got a golf cart (usually when my mom came along). A side note about my mom: she doesn’t hit out of sand traps so if you ever play with her don’t be surprised when she throws the ball out of the trap and moves on :). Back to my point, what kid doesn’t love to drive a golf cart! Disclaimer – I have no idea how old you need to actually be to drive a cart so make sure you check the course rules first.

This is how I learned to play the awesome game of golf. Check back in for more tips and life lessons at Mother and Son Sports!

by Stacey Atkinson

Category: Misc. | Tags: ,
| July 8, 2013
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Old Hoop

For some reason when I see an old basketball hoop it gives me a sense of comfortPictures for blog (1) 018 and reminds me of my playing days. Think of all of the history behind that hoop and what it has been through. Here are some of my thoughts……

How many shots? How many makes? How many misses? How many banks? How many swishes? How many games? Who has played there? How many moves practiced at that site? How many arguments? How many dunks? How many dreams made? One on one games, three on three, full court? Who tore the net? Who bent the rim? Who put the hoop up? Will it get taken down? History- Basketball- Love of the Game – Old Hoop.

by Stacey Atkinson

Category: Inspiration | Tags:
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