Richmond in the fall is a wonderful place. Cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon – fall brings on so many activities. Pumpkin patches, apple picking, scarves, warm coffee, and FOOTBALL. It’s the season that my family looks forward to the most. One of the things that we look forward to the most is football. Football is more than a game, its a family.
From the practices to gamedays we have all learned so much from football. We have not only formed friendships and gained valuable skills, but we now have an extended family. Every August, we gather together and for months we watch our boys play and our girls cheer.
Often at the start of the season, our coaches look a bit like they are herding cats. But, as the season goes on, something magical begins to happen. Little by little, practice by practice and play by play everything begins to change. The boys build relationships with each other through hard work and play that begins to show on the field. They learn to trust each other and form bonds that in many cases last their lifetimes.
Our children learn so much about physical fitness
It’s hot and humid here in the late summer and it is important to stay hydrated. We teach them how important it is to drink water – and not just hydrating at practice or game time, but throughout the day as well. The exercises they perform not only keep them stretched and agile, but injury free. It always surprises me how much different my boys look from the beginning of a season to the end.
They learn hard lessons
My boys don’t have the most “glamorous” of positions – or at least the ones you hear about on TV. They play various line and guard positions. There is so much heard about running a ball from a fan’s perspective, but the line and protecting your best friend – that’s where it’s at. From playing line positions they have learned that sometimes the hero is the one who helps defend someone else. As mothers, we can speak about helping others – football shows them firsthand what their efforts can help to create at a very young age.
Momsquad
Getting up at 5 AM to be out the door by 6 to travel and be on the field for warm-ups doesn’t sound like fun – unless you have your momsquad with you. There are so many things to bond over because let’s face it – if you have forgotten something another mom usually has it stashed in her car somewhere. As moms, we have each other’s back – through rain, mud, hot days and cold – there are now 20 some other ladies that can help look after your child. I have shared some of my best and worst moments with these very special ladies. I am so thankful that football brought us all together.
The lessons that my boys have learned from playing are invaluable and ones that I can’t teach on my own. I am thankful that my boys chose a sport that teaches them values while they are having fun – values they can use long after they have stopped playing. Football is so much more than a game – its family.
If you would like to get more information on how football has impacted the lives of others – including players, families, and fans nationwide visit Football Matters on Instagram and Facebook.
