I could go there: I've
got six of those creatures.
Grandchildren that is. 7, 6, 4,
3, 2, and 6 months. Let me tell you
about my grandchildren (no, not really).
The three oldest of those (7,6,4) are playing soccer through
the soccer program at Parks & Rec. 7
& 6 had played last year but in Knoxville where they lived then.
I hadn't been on the fields at old Everett High School in a
long time, maybe since my son played first soccer and then football there. They've done a good job of fixing it up--new
concession stand, nice bleachers, good fields for play.
But it really hasn't changed that much. Heck, it hasn't changed that much since 1968
when my high school football team played Everett High in football (Jackie
Lefler threw a touchdown pass as time expired to win the game) or when my
brother-in-law played in an epic playoff game against Maryville High on that same
field in 1975.
It is most definitely a memorable place, steeped in memories
for a lot of people.
So here I was early on a Saturday morning, waiting the start
of a game on fields where I had spent many hours. The Black/Dee entourage was impressive: Last Saturday we even added my 94 year old
mother to the group. When we lined up
the folding chairs (you know the kind), we seemed to reach from end zone to end
zone. It was more like we invaded the
place as we settled in to watch whichever child (7,6, or 4) play.
A buddy of mine with grandchildren of his own to watch beat
me to the cliché-"it seems like just yesterday that we were here with our
own kids."
The week before, we had watched the first game (7) in a
driving rain. 4 was up next and he
declared that he didn't really want to play in that rain so we left to go eat
something. 6's game later that morning
was cancelled so the Grandmother and I didn't have to make excuses for our
absence. We were with the 4--we didn't
want to stand up out there in all that rain either.
My goodness the 4 year old may have more sense than all of
us anyway.
But last Saturday was gorgeous with sunshine and just enough
cool to make it comfortable. And
everyone had the aforementioned folding chairs lined up field side for the
spectacle to unfold.
Let me tell you about those kids. I'm pretty sure 7 won't have a long career
in soccer but she sure has fun out there.
Oh, she'll play something. She's
going to be tall and she's already athletic with parents wise enough to let her
choose her own path.
6 is a much better soccer player than we would have
thought. She stole the ball once,
dribbled the length of the field and then a fired a shot that just missed the
back post (but I wasn't going to go there, was I....)
4 probably won't play a lot of soccer either. I see more individual sports in his
future. Maybe tennis or something where
he doesn't have to hit someone else and for sure someone else doesn't get to
hit him.
But the point of all this is that they are out there,
moving, running, kicking, having fun.
Basic movement education. I
don't care if they become great soccer players or not. I'm more interested in them learning how to
move their bodies, developing athleticism and love for an active lifestyle.
Now THAT'S what it's all about!
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