Disclaimer: Future For Football is an initiative of the National Football Foundation, created to highlight the lessons and values that football imparts. Get involved and sign up to play today by visiting Future for Football for resources, a League Locator tool, and much more.
Becoming a First Time Football Mom
My husband and I are not really athletic people, so it was a surprise to us when our 13 year old son said that he wanted to play football on his middle school team this fall. He’s in 8th grade, and he has a little more coordination than I do, but I’ve gone back and forth with emotions of him playing the game for the first time. He says he wants to play because he wants to be a part of the team with his friends. He doesn’t care that they won’t play together in high school because they are zoned for different schools and some plan to apply for magnet schools (including him); he just wants to be with them now.
Thankfully my husband is knowledgeable about football, even though he hasn’t played on a team himself. Our son has done Muay Thai for the past two years, but we put that kickboxing class on hold for a bit and got a family membership to a local gym. They’ve been watching YouTube videos together to learn about plays and workouts that could help him be ready.
My girls (his older and younger sisters) have been ready to cheer him on with his dad and me when it comes to game time, and we know that he’s going to get hit hard, but he will love the game. There is a little fear of watching him get hurt, but we know that is the risk.
Football is a community event. It brings people together. It is exciting to be a part of something greater.
We know that he can win, and that will be thrilling to celebrate. But we also know that he can lose, too. And we will have to work through those emotions and frustrations.
What about penalties? How will we navigate that?
My husband said that he is happy that there will be other men speaking into our son’s life. He needs to be coached. He needs to learn to take criticism and work on improvements that others see.
My mom-heart is full of emotions as the season of football approaches, and I know that there will be some emotions as it comes to an end.
I’m ok that we waited for him to get involved later in his middle school years. We aren’t sure if we will be a part of the Friday Night Lights of Louisiana next year.
So for now, we will relish in the moments that we have as we become a football family for the first time.
