Football Frenzy

Back during the summer Caleb became interested in football. He played football with his neighborhood friends (or Dad, when he was home, or Mom as a last resort) whenever he could. He read everything he could find about football, memorizing statistics and facts. He seemed to be, for a while, a walking football encyclopedia. So how could I tell my kid he couldn't play football this fall because I didn't want to be so busy. Football here is a huge deal, and our team of tenth graders had practice two hours a day, three days a week. Sometimes there was an additional fourth practice. Then there were the games, for which we had to get there two hours early to practice. Busy, busy, busy. But Caleb loved it. And got pretty good for only a couple of months of instruction. His coaches have been impressed with his determination. More than once, they've stuck him on the line opposite the other team's biggest player. And if my kid doesn't hold him! They've laughed seeing my little Caleb (who always seemed big until we started him in football...I don't know if they breed them big here or if there's something in the water but the kids here are HUGE!) hold the big kids everyone else is scared of. More than once they've told the other kids on the team that if they all played as hard as Caleb, they'd win every game. This Saturday is the playoff game. If they win this, they play in the championship. If not, the season is over. How bad a mom does it make me to hope my kid plays his best but that they still don't win so the season doesn't last one more long, cold, dark week. This week they had a two hour practice in less than 40 degree weather. Brr! Fortunately, despite the snow, it may prove to be a sunny, fairly warm (for November) weekend. So here he is: Waiting for the action to start

Getting into position

Walking off the field with Dad after getting hurt on the field. The worst moment of the season: when everyone gets up after the tackle, but my kid is still on the ground. He was fine, thank goodness, but it doesn't mean I'm any less nervous about letting him play tackle football.

Sitting on the sidelines watching the last few minutes of the game.

And from earlier in the game, here's Caleb in hot pursuit of the guy with the ball.

He took this other guy down.