Darrick and I both are former athletes, he played Football (went to college on a Football Scholarship) and I played volleyball through high school. We are also big sports fans, most people think I got into sports when my husband and I got together, but I have been an avid sports fan for a long time. You could always find me with my father or group of boys discussing sports! I have been like this since about 4th or 5th grade.
Emma and DJ love sports as well; Emma likes to watch sports and DJ likes to play and watch any kind of sports. A couple of years ago we signed DJ up for a mini-season of T-Ball and let’s just say that turned out nothing like what we intended. We quickly learned that wasn’t “his thing.” DJ received a Cleveland Browns helmet for Christmas a few years ago, and we knew right away “Football was in his Blood”…you see besides his Dad, my father and uncles also played football and went to school on football scholarships! At the end of the year, we introduced DJ to the world of playing Flag Football.
DJ understands the skill of playing and practicing but we are also trying to teach him how to take care of his body as well. Inside and Out!
Game Day Tips…
- REST…even though DJ is FULL of energy, he goes to bed early before game days. His games are on Saturdays so instead of staying up late on Friday night, he goes to bed at his normal time. If his game is a later game, I may make him take a nap, or have an hour of “chilling out”
- Arrive at the Facility Early…On game days, we usually arrive one hour early. This gives the Coach and Players time to talk, warm-up, and prepare for any last-minute changes. The kids may be young, but warming up their bodies is vital and prevents injuries!
- Pack Equipment Bag the Night Before…Make sure the child helps with this process so they know what they need, and helps with the understanding of all of the equipment. Since Darrick is the Coach he would often have DJ prepare the footballs and clipboard in the bag the night before the game. This ensured they had everything they needed and nothing was left at home. They would also pack DJ’s bag that was filled with his mouth-piece, cleats, towel, and water bottle.
- Always Discuss Game Safety and Following the Rules…this is an important one. Kids don’t always understand why safety factors are implemented, however, take time before each game to remind them of the rules and game safety! And quiz them on the information to make sure they’re really listening and comprehending everything.
