youth basketball

I am turning into a sidelines mom. Not sitting on the sidelines, so much as yelling from the sidelines. It wasn't quite so noticeable when the kids were playing soccer...big outdoor field, lots of team parents, sometimes bad weather. People wouldn't pay so much attention to what some crazy girl was yelling down the line. Basketball, however, is totally different. This is our first year, because until 3rd grade, all the games and practices were on Sundays, so Johnny had to wait. Now it's indoors, half-court games, not-so-many team parents to hide among (not so many team members on a basketball team, I guess), and no weather to blame it on.

Here I am, the only parent among...dozens, well, two dozen, maybe, cheering like mad. I was so proud of them their first game. In the first half, they scored 30 points, and the other team scored 4. We spent the last few minutes of the first half really pulling for those other boys to score at all. The second half they slowed down a bit, and only scored 10 more, but with a final score of 40 - 16, I think they did pretty good. It was probably my moral support that won the day. So, the rest of you sedate parents, ignore the crazy girl - she is part of a winning strategy.

Here is a pic of the first game, Olivia took it - remember, she's 4.

That's him out front, numero uno, makin' the fast break. Not the one with the ball, the one who looks like he is a world-class sprinter. That's my boy.