hang em up

For the past 6 years, I have been a Little League football coach.

I have coached my son, Kameron, and his football team.

This fall...you won't find me on the sidelines.

I have officially "retired" from coaching. My retirement wasn't my choice. Well...it was...but it wasn't. Kameron, who has developed into a pretty good football player, decided this past April to try out for his middle school football team. When he told me of his plans, I asked him if he was sure that was what he wanted to do. I know the level of competition for middle school was pretty high. After visiting his first "tryout", I told Kameron that I didn't know if he was gonna make it.

I told him..."Based on what I see...I don't think you're gonna make it. I'm not trying to discourage you. I believe in you and your talents. But I have to tell you what I see as a person who evaluates talent...not as a father." He knows that I will never sugarcoat anything. I'm honest and always will be.

After tryouts were over, Kameron came home one day and said..."I guess you'll be retiring Dad because I made the team." I was shocked. I didn't think he could do it...but he did! Kameron (12) is very confident...much like his father. I'm not sure if my words pushed him. That wasn't my intent. Nevertheless, he made it.

Not long after Kameron made his middle school team, my youngest son, Brandon, said that he was "retiring" from football. He's only 7 but he's been playing since he was 4. He said he wanted to play basketball and baseball. I asked him if he was sure and he said yes. One thing I know about sports is that you don't "push" or "pressure" a kid into playing a sport. Sports require commitment and dedication. If a kid isn't committed or dedicated, you're wasting your time.

As for me, I loved coaching. I love football. It's my first love. I will miss being around the kids. Most of the kids on our team I've coached for 5 or 6 years. I've watched them grow. We've won a lot of games as well as championships together. I'll miss my fellow coaches. We've developed an unbreakable bond. It's funny to me that I had this much fun coaching when I was very reluctant to coach in the beginning. But this is the end of the road. Now I get to be one of the parents in the stands yelling at the coaches! LOL. I'm hanging up my whistle.

Unless Skyler asks me to coach her team when she gets older...