For some reason I seem to find myself out of the loop when it comes to sports sign-ups. OK, yes, with a 5-year-old, I am new to the game, as it were but how is it that other Moms in the same life stage seem to consistently sign their children up for sports on time?
Each season the same thing happens. In casual conversation parents start to mention the sports their children will play in the, fill in the blank… spring, summer, winter. I look with wonder and ask, “Where?, When? Why didn’t I hear about it?â€
“How did I miss it? Is it too late?†I continue to be met with blank stares as each Mom tries to remember what sign she saw, what catalog she received or who told her. My neighbor who signs her two children up for every possible sport or activity (not concurrently of course) but with alarming precision each season looks at me hopelessly. I think she believes that I am… hopeless that is.
The fact that my DS is less than enthusiastic about structured activities doesn’t help. Rarely does he beg me to engage in this sport or that camp. He is most content engaging in free play with his toys and friends in and around our home. But, it’s important to do SOME of these types of activities, isn’t it? I’m not advocating signing him up for 3 activities a week but, maybe one per season? I’d be happy with one per year.
And so, the burden is left to me. And I haven’t quite gotten the schedule figured out. Why are T-ball sign-ups in September…for the following Spring? Why is it so difficult to find a spring soccer program… one that isn’t too competitive? How DO you find an inline hockey league for 5-year-olds?
And did I mention, it better be cheap and short. Since my DS is just starting on the structured activity thing… he is apt want to quit part way through. Pushing him for a few weeks I can do. Pushing twice a week for two months I’m not willing to.
And so I find myself scrambling for soccer. It looks like I’m not the only one out of the loop this spring. Sign-ups in my neighborhood aren’t until mid-January… whew!
by MC Milker
[tags]kids, children, parents, parenting, soccer, organization, sign-ups, schedule, scheduling[/tags]
Photo graciously provided by mrbill, through a Creative Commons license, some rights reserved
2 responses so far ↓
AmyL // Jan 14, 2008 at 11:48 am
MC, this is soooooo me!
I had the worst time getting the boys into any kind of sport because I never seemed to know when sign-ups were. The secret to some of the sports is that they have sign-ups at the end of the existing season. So, fall soccer ended last October and we signed up for spring already, which doesn’t begin until March or April. If you want to be on the fall soccer team, you’ll need to be filling out papers this May.
We’ve been in AYSO soccer and it’s definitely been about having fun, learning the game, and building teams. A big rule is “everybody plays”. In fact, families in my local town pulled out of AYSO to create a more competitive league. We have to drive to the next town to remain in the AYSO program. For the ages of my kids, that’s more appropriate. They can get competitive when they’re older.
The 5yos were just old enough to participate for the first time last fall, and it was great. Once a week they had a practice/game all in one shebang and we were done. It was very low-key and we’re looking forward to the spring season.
I betcha if you find the local coordinator they’d be able to get you signed up even at this “late” juncture.
Do you have a local parks and recreation department in your town? They’d be the ones who know a lot of what sports happen when. Good luck!
Gift of Green // Jan 15, 2008 at 6:03 am
Huh? It’s spring? What?!?! Wait…where am I?
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