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How to have a well-packed sports season
Remember the day you figured out you could keep a diaper bag packed with everything except a fresh bottle waiting by the front door? And then when you streamlined that bag so that you could eventually leave the house with a diaper, a Wet-Nap, and a purple crayon? Well, it’s not quite as liberating, but I am striving toward that perfect streamlined organization when it comes to my older children’s spring sports survival pack.
You know the drill -- your child has a bat bag filled with his baseball equipment, (or soccer, lacrosse, basketball, tennis, volleyball or curling) but it’s all of those other items that families need to bring to the game that takes extra innings to pack every weekend. I’ve recently prepared just such a bag for the season to keep in the car next to the folding chairs so we are always ready.
Here are my necessities: ... Read more
Don't touch that ball!
My son’s high school locker room looks and smells like, well, a high school locker room. It's nose cocktail of sweat, Axe and old cheese not only hints at its germ-laden condition, but they are currently trying to stave off a contagious skin infection from making its way around the team. So when these tips to avoid MRSA and other infectious diseases in sports equipment landed in my inbox, I found it particularly timely and important to share.
According to the website StopMRSANow.org, athletes in particular should be careful with their equipment. They recommend: ... Read more
We have a winner!
I thought of Karsen at my Sunday morning tennis match.
I'm brand-new to tennis, and at one point I told myself, "every time we say 'deuce,' I'm a winner!"
Now, if only I could sell that concept to my beginning U-6 soccer players.
Karsen, in particular, insists that "winning" is when he gets the ball in the goal. The game score means nothing. If he didn't score, he didn't win. ... Read more
A good day for Isabella, frustrating for Elijah
Your child's coach here, proud of Isabella. Remember her from my first post of the season? 
Just a few weeks ago, she was backing away from the ball in defense. We worked hard during practice, and recently she ran for the ball and saved it more times than I can count. ... Read more
Your child's coach: Post-game drama
I'm not going to take sides in this one, because both sides had legitimate grievances. And it doesn't help when several of your players have parents who coach (and have strong opinions about how it should be done.) ... Read more
Your child's coach: Shocked!
Okay, so the truth is that I wasn't supposed to take a soccer team this season, too hard to juggle coaching with my new work schedule. But the league was desperate, so I took a team just long enough to find a parent to replace me. Within days a woman stepped up who solved my weeknight practice problem. She lives at the field and she's great with the kids.
In the meantime, we struggled all week with the rain. You know how it goes if you're a coach. The clouds appear at 3 p.m. and parents start calling you. "Will it rain tonight?" I sometimes want to answer, "Am I God?" It's always been my policy to wait until about an hour before practice time before deciding. It still could clear up, in which case you feel like a dope. But people have to get dressed and drive, and so forth. ... Read more
Your Child's Coach: Just had to take this photo
I've written before about my husband, who thinks U-6 soccer is stupid. He has some good points -- it's stupid if you take it too seriously and put any pressure whatsoever on the kids. But I say, show them a good time and let the game teach the child. It's a good foundation -- again, if you let the kids be kids.
Observe our first game. Mine were the ones in purple.
... Read more
Whether child is athlete or just having fun, help them stay in the game
Isabella was 4 when I started coaching her. Athletically, she wasn't the most competitive player. But I noticed that when she would arrive late, the children's faces would light up. "Isabella!" They would squeal. She is just a delightful child. ... Read more
Skip the junk food and try these easy game snacks
Kids are back to school and back on the field and that makes it doubly hard for a family to get a healthy meal in between homework and running to the ballfield. This list of healthy snacks to keep in your cooler is a good place to start. And in this story, you can find out what student athletes are eating -- and what they actually should be eating. ... Read more
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THE AUTHORS
E-mail Sharon Kennedy Wynne:
wynne@tampabay.com
E-mail Kate Brassfield:
katedaphne17@gmail.com