End of Season

The Upward Flag Football & Cheerleading season is officially complete. Our family attended the award ceremony this evening. It is a great event. In addition to fun door prizes, slideshows, prayers, and music, there is usually an entertainer who performs and brings a positive message. Tonight's entertainer was a juggler. He had incredible talent, and captured the kids' attention the entire show.

At the end of the event, the teams lined up for the "parade of champions." There was an inflatable tunnel that each child ran through as their name was called. Our children beamed with pride as they ran through the tunnel to the front of the stage.

Jersey #1

Jersey #2

Jersey #3

Each player was given a gift. The cheerleaders received backpacks. The football players received footballs. Fun Stuff.

Football Fun

Flag Football has been a fun experience with Jersey #3. He loves balls. He loves sports. Right now, we don't see a favorite sport emerging for him yet.

Kindergarteners in sports are very entertaining for the parents. There has been more than one situation where Jersey #3 attempted to run the football through the opposing team's goal line. He tends to want to run away from the crowd.

It took him half the season to realize that he can pull the flag of the person running the ball. That discovery made the game much more engaging for him, when his team was on defense.

Snack time after the game is still his favorite part of playing team sports.

What a Sport!

Jersey #1 is a good sport at just about anything she does...

She tries her best, and takes it all in stride...

She makes friends with everyone on the team.

I expected her to be more timid and shy about performing in front of the crowd. She really surprised me by how well she goes forward. She learns the routines well, and concentrates to complete each cheer accurately.

Once in a while, she smiles and looks like she is actually enjoying herself...

Two games ago, she asked me if girls can play football too. The answer is yes.

She says cheerleading was fun, but next year she wants to sign up for the football team.

That's MY girl!

3 Cheers for the Coach

My experience as a cheerleading coach has been quite interesting, but definitely one that I do not care to repeat. I just wanted to give the girls an opportunity to try cheerleading. I didn’t want the program cancelled just because there was no coach. But, honestly, I do not know what I am doing. It seems accurate to say that coaches have much more to offer when they actually know something about the sport. The best coaches seem to have a real passion for their sports too.

I do not know anything about cheerleading. I was never a cheerleader. I do not have rhythm. I am not skilled at gymnastics. I do not even look cute in a skirt! What was I thinking?

The Upward sports program is more about faith than it is about sports. Each practice contains a devotion. The devotions build upon each other through the season, with the goal of teaching children about salvation through Jesus. Thankfully, I am comfortable leading a group of young girls through a devotion. So, that part of our weekly practices is going well.

As for the cheer part, I am counting on the fact that the girls are young, and they are cute, so no one will care that our cheers are a mess. I did manage to learn some very basic fundamental moves and stances. They are able to call out a cheer, and clap together (most of the time). After that, it is anyone’s guess as to what will happen.

Four of the girls are 6-8 years old, and seem to be able to learn the cheer combinations just fine. Three of the girls are 5 years old, either by chronological age or by developmental age. In any sport, 5-year olds are the ones who are easily distracted. Cheerleading is no different. That is why I am counting on their adorable presence to get us big applause!

Jersey #3’s first flag football game is scheduled for next week. His sisters will be cheering for that game. Jersey #3 is one of those easily distracted 5-year olds, too. This could get interesting.

Jersey #3

Jersey #3 received his flag football jersey this week.

I squealed with delight when he pulled it out of the box. Not only is he just adorable as can be in a football jersey, but check out his JERSEY NUMBER....

My little Jersey #3.

It is so awesome the way that the Upward Sports program fits the uniforms to my blog names like that!