Flag Football

Cole wanted to play 'real' football (with pads) this year.  We would have supported his desire (especially Mark) except that he didn't really have any experience playing football and the only league he could play in at his age was a lot of money AND you had to buy all the gear.  We convinced him to play flag football this year, so he could learn the rules and get some experience, and that he could play 'real' football next year (honestly, I think we also told him that flag football was the only choice for 7 year olds).  We would have gladly paid the fee and bought the gear if we knew he liked the sport, but we were unsure of the contact part (as he gets nervous playing catch sometimes).

We found a league through the Parks and Recreation department and signed him up.  Cole ended up having fun and learning a bit, but mercy, you do get what you pay for.  They had only two practices (the first of which was organizing the teams and then got canceled due to rain) and then started playing games.  Most of the kids on the team hadn't played football before, and would have benefited from a few extra practices (Cole's coach did organize a couple of additional practices, on his own time, for them).  We also started playing football a bit more in the backyard and practicing some skills, instead of just playing catch (although we do that to).  So we'll see if Cole wants to play 'real' football in the fall, but at least he'll be a little more knowledgeable about the sport!

I could label these pictures with the positions Cole is playing, what he's doing, etc. but I don't really know.  I'll have to become a little more knowledgeable about football if Cole decides this is his sport!