After years of baseball and basketball, we've ventured into the world of football. Ben and Jack got to each play a sport this year and, awesomely for us, they both chose the same sport at the same time! Scheduling win. To ensure even more of a scheduling win, Jimmy volunteered to coach Jack's team so that we could make their practices fall at the same time as Ben's. Any concerns he had about the fact that he actually didn't know a thing about coaching football went out the window on the first practice when it became very clear that the main goal of the season was going to be to keep those little cats herded. That they ended the season with some actual plays and coordinated team effort was a nice surprise. Jack's determined, capable, get-it-done spirit came out in full force this season. His focus on the field cracked us up and he was so quick to figure things out. He made tackles like they were no big thing and even scored his share of touchdowns.
Ben's team was the first team that any of our boys have played on that Jimmy wasn't coaching. He felt a little sad about that at first, but his coach ended up being a long-time friend of our family and he was awesome for Ben. The combination of Brent's desire for the kids to have fun and also grow their skills and better learn the game ended up lighting a fire under our sweet Ben. He's our most cautious and deliberate kid; he's never been in a hurry for a single second in his life. But this football season showed us a side of him we've never seen before. He warmed up slowly, but midway through the season he turned into Mr. Steady, reliably catching passes, quietly making tackles and running like we've never seen him run before. No fanfare, no big deal, just doing the needful. I think he grew up before our eyes.
Ben's team was the first team that any of our boys have played on that Jimmy wasn't coaching. He felt a little sad about that at first, but his coach ended up being a long-time friend of our family and he was awesome for Ben. The combination of Brent's desire for the kids to have fun and also grow their skills and better learn the game ended up lighting a fire under our sweet Ben. He's our most cautious and deliberate kid; he's never been in a hurry for a single second in his life. But this football season showed us a side of him we've never seen before. He warmed up slowly, but midway through the season he turned into Mr. Steady, reliably catching passes, quietly making tackles and running like we've never seen him run before. No fanfare, no big deal, just doing the needful. I think he grew up before our eyes.