Football Aint for Sissys

Look at my handsome guy! We, um yeah, they completed 5 days practice and conditioning without pads and the boys (and girls) were thrilled to get all their pads and helmets to practice in. They are still pushing themselves, the coach is still screaming like the adorable little mad man he is but those pads changed more than just their looks. It's got to be hard to run with all that gear on and you can see it. in their strides. in their faces. and in their water breaks. They are learning to hit now and I'm learning there is a lot to technique by watching.

Last night my little guy got into my truck, said good bye to his Dad and once we pulled off he started crying. He was trying to fight back the tears and I told him to let it all out and tell me what was up. He was upset because the coach keeps pushing and pushing and asking them to give more and more and he's afriad he doesn't have anymore to give...He hurt his leg last night and it was the first time he's ever been hurt playing. Someone fell on him tackling and their shoulder pads jammed the tendon behind his knee. He was angry at a teammate for being lazy and sitting out when they were supposed to be doing certain exercises. And even madder at the ones that kept screwing around resulting in the team having to run yet another lap. It was one tough night.

We went home, he had it back together before we got there, got him a hot shower, burritos for dinner and an ice pack for the knee with a whisper that once his little sister fell asleep he could climb in my bed...As soon as she was asleep his leg was better and he was curled up with the pups in Mom's bed.