After a completely jam packed, little time for literally anything else, 14 weeks of football for both Jack and Sam, the season ended yesterday with Jack's team winning the championships for their age division!
The boys won 14 to 8, after being down 6 to 8 at the start of the 2nd half. Let me tell you, if I bit my nails, I would be down to bloody stubs! My voice is hoarse from all the yelling and cheering, I sound like I used to after coming home from CHA or a long weekend of back to back teaching.
I can't begin to tell you what a fabulous experience this season has been for us. Nick and I were a little shocked when both boys decided they wanted to play tackle football. They've played organized sports since they could - starting with t-ball and soccer and growing into flag football, baseball and lacrosse. But neither had the tackle football personality, or so we thought.
The last 14 weeks have been crazy. 2+ hour a day, 6 day a week practices for the first month followed by 2+ hour a day, 3 day a week practices the rest of the time after school started and a full game day Saturday each weekend between them both. If you wonder where I've been and why my poor blog has been so neglected, well there you go!
Jack had 4 amazing coaches. Coaches that understood it was his first year playing. Coaches that pushed and pushed and challenged him to give it his all. And he did. He played offensive left guard. He's a different kid after these last 14 weeks. He's stronger (both physically and mentally), he's more confident both physically and socially (he didn't know a soul the first week of tryouts) and he's slimmed down quite a bit after all of the conditioning - a side bonus!
(Jack on the far right)
Then there's the fact that our 12 year old is pushing 5'10", 170 pounds and a size 11.5 shoe!
He had great teammates. Most of the boys had been playing at least 3 years prior to this season. And most of the boys knew each other. And they welcomed Jack with open arms. We had a great team of parents - everyone willing to pitch in and volunteer to do whatever it took to help these boys suceed - including dinner, fun activities and treats for the boys as part of Psyche Night every Friday night after practice, painting banners for the boys to run through at halftime, halftime treats, post game treats, lanyards for the parents, shifts in the Brighton Snack Shack, shifts in the Clothing Wagon and an end of season banquet and video (nobody said football doesn't require a lot of time and commitment - for both the kids AND the parents!!).
We couldn't be more thankful for such a great first year football experience for both boys and we couldn't be happier for Jack and his team and more proud of Jack!
CONGRATULATIONS BENGALS!!!!
(only 38 weeks until the season starts again and we can't wait!)
