The Boys of Fall
Posted by PR Wonk under Creating Smiles and Stories on September 29th, 2010
“When I feel that chill, smell that fresh cut grass/I’m back in my helmet, cleats and shoulder pads/Standing in the huddle, listening to the call/Fans going crazy for the boys of fall” — Kenny Chesney
One of my greatest joys as a father has been serving as an assistant coach for my son’s youth football team. Last year was the first time he got the opportunity to put on the pads, strap on the helmet and feel what it was like to block an opposing player, tackle the tailback and be tackled. For some boys on the team, it took an entire season just to learn the three point stance or proper way to throw or catch a pass. For others, running the ball, playing quarterback and scoring touchdowns came rather naturally. No matter the skills or level of talent or athleticism they brought to the team, each grew and contributed to the team in some small way.
This year, the fifth-grade boys are a bit bigger; the fundamentals are coming easier and the game is getting faster. It has been rewarding to watch how quickly the team has jelled in just a few short practices and how hard players are starting to hit and work as team. The plays are more complex and when executed correctly, there are smiles, cheers and high fives all around.
We play most of our games on Saturday mornings and there is nothing like hearing the parents and grandparents cheer like crazy when someone breaks a tackle and heads for the end zone. In the end, it isn’t who has won or lost as we really don’t keep score or any standings, but how each player did that day and improving from one week to the next.
As in life, the football season goes by quickly and before you know it, it’s over. Therefore we do everything we can to celebrate those little and large victories with the boys of fall as often as possible. Oh, yeah, and when those celebrations just happen to end up at the local DQ® restaurant because someone’s Dad happens to work for the corporation, well, it doesn’t get much sweeter than that.
Tell us how you celebrate life’s little victories.
