Learning from a Chestermere Chiefs Football Mom

I have to confess when my 7 year old son begged me to sign him up for football I was worried, although I have always loved the sport I had a hard time envisioning my boy taking on some big burly linebacker and it ending up OK!! But when both his dad and him were keen to join the Chestermere Chiefs I signed us all up. What I was pleasantly surprised to learn was that this “Ultimate Team Sport” would be one of the most inspiring things I’ve been a part of. First every piece of equipment except shoes was provided for the team as part of the reasonable fee, and it was in fabulous shape, fitted for each player’s body size and shape. Next the coaches were excited to coach, learning about each child and you could see them burst with pride when any of the kids accomplished something new whether it was how to catch the ball, how to make a tackle or how to use their body to make a play. They even took an interest in my 4 year old and he spent most practices on the field playing catch and learning about the game from the coaches and players.
I watched kids who had anxiety about running or not doing well enough encouraged to use their bodies and by the end of the season run two laps of the field without stopping, bursting with pride. I watched some of the smaller kids learn techniques which allowed them to get around the line and make plays for their team. I heard one 10 year old boy tell his mom that he wasn’t scared of tacking the “big kids on the other team, because he only had to slow them down til the rest of his team got there” (pretty cool thing to learn when you’re 9!). Over and over I saw kids become more confident and parents get excited to watch our team learn and play, right up to the 2nd last play of the season when our throw for the touchdown play finally worked and we all felt as though we had won the Grey Cup!! Everyone was sad when the season was over.
I could share how amazing it was for the players to play on the big field at McMahon, or to have Stampeders Players act as honorary coaches for one of their games. Or I could go on at length about the video everyone received that highlighted their games complete with music and sound effects. The Chiefs for us was truly the ultimate team sport – actually the ultimate family sport, and we can’t wait for the 2013 season. If your son or daughter would like to find out more we would love to have them come to any one of our mini camps free of charge at the Rec Centre on May 22nd, June 14th or June 22nd with a get to know you BBQ to follow. Feel free to email our Manager Michelle.bean@ghsd75.ca, or Coach Al alanspeidel@telus.net if you would like more information. We’d love to show you how fun this team is!!