Football & Herding Cats

     
        My 6 yr old is playing his first season of flag football.  To say it is entertaining would be an understatement.  It is downright H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S. Very similar to what I can imagine it might be like to try and "herd cats".  The kids are 5 and 6 yrs old and are only concerned with the concept of "pulling off flags".  The coach is BEYOND patient and continues to remind the parents that they WILL see improvement from beginning to end of season. :-)  He has them do warmup exercises (the pushups will crack you up), drills (they keep moving the cones around), run laps (they cut through the middle when the coach has his back turned) and are currently working on running plays.....all while trying to make sure they have fun. 

I have heard coach's comments like:
*  Quit picking your nose!
*  Pull your pants up!
*  Put your shirt down!
*  Stand up - you can't sit down during a play!
*  Run!  Have you ever seen a football player WALK to make a touchdown??
*  Pull their FLAG, not their shorts!
*  You have to be faster than a turtle!
*  No, we aren't going to stop and eat popsicles!
*  Leave your boxers alone!
*  Quit picking grass and throwing it!
*  Okay, go give your Mom a hug and then come right back! (that was my boy - loved it!)

But I think one of my favorites was last week.  The boys were playing a game of sharks and minnows and trying not to get their flags pulled.  Coach yelled "GO!" and the boys started running.  In the middle of the pack were 2 little guys (good friends) who decided they would hold hands while running across the field.  LOL!!  The dad's looked mortified and the parents were giggling.  Coach:  "Don't hold hands!  You don't hold hands in football!"  They let go and stood ready to go again.  The minute the coach yells "GO!", they grab hands again and start running.  Coach:  "What is this?  Cheer Camp???"  I almost lost it I was laughing so hard.  He ran up to the little boys and said, "Guys, why are you holding hands??"  The little boys looked so serious and one smiled and said, "Because we can run faster together!" :)

Later that night I was thinking about those cuties running in their jerseys, flags and holding hands.  Maybe they are on to something.  Maybe we can go faster, be better, be more successful when we do it together......when we find somebody to come along beside us, when we know somebody has our back, when we turn our head and there they are....running with us.  I think kids are way smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.  I like the way those little boys think.

Here.....grab my hand,

k