Willpower. That is what it is going to take to avoid wandering back into youth football this fall. I want the boy to do it deep down. I want to be out there enjoying watching, but that should not happen. He’s gone through football nonstop for a few seasons now, and with the idea still being to have him represent the state in both February and June/July, having a few months off is simply a no brainer. This won’t stop the coaches from asking and me from wanting to cave, but I cannot do it. Instead I need to view this off season as what it truly is: an off season. A chance to pursue other things both athletically and otherwise. This is Waiver Wednesday, so we will focus on the athlete stuff.
As I write I am peeling Middle School Basketball dates off my calendar. The kid passed on tryouts, ostensibly because of the nonsensical way everything was being put together due to Covid. Good choice. It was a mess, kids were not being evaluated and learning was not going to happen in that condensed form. He hasn’t played basketball in an organized fashion since he was 7, so this was a reach to begin with. Now it is out of reach and He can hope to try out again in the coming year and learn the game a little. With his height it seems like a good fit. In the meanwhile there is the possibility of track. This one is a little easier to think about, because I can coach him up on my own and get him ready. Right now the plan is to work on all three boys (one is rehabbing) by obtaining a starting block and a Jawku timer to help them track speed.
I’m trying to settle into a routine with such things and one that evolves over time to allow them to continue the routines without me. I want them to take ownership of their sports careers. It is high time that happened for at least two of them. In a sense they absolutely have and I feel that is becoming more and more prevalent over time. I let it drop off to the point where if they wanted this then they had to go get it. They went and got it and now I’m making sure they stay on point. Soon, I won’t have to.