The Monsters

Aiden began his first season in Pop Warner football about a month ago. Today was his second game and his first time he got to play. He has had quite a few obstacles so far in his football career. Starting off he missed the first three practices because we were on vacation. Then about a week after he started practicing he injured his foot which put him on the injured list for about 2 weeks. Then when he was finally at ready to really get into it, he lost his helmet which delayed him another week. After all the set backs he still wants to play. I don't know a lot about football but I think he is second string defense. He plays for a very good and disciplined team . At first I thought the coach and his staff were really crazy because they had the kids practice 5 days a week for 2.5 hours each night and worked them like they were professional athletes but I am now gaining a greater understanding of why the team is pressed to the limit. The discipline and structure he receives from his coaches is really good for a kid like Aiden. He also now has strong role models to look up to. The team is for 7,8, and 9 year olds so since Aiden is only 7 I hope that he is able to play with the same team for a couple of years and really learn how to play the game. The funny thing is I recently asked him what his favorite part of the game is and he said he likes to run in practice which really threw me because he is ALWAYS dead last when running with his teammates. He said he also enjoys on occasion knocking the boys down. If nothing else all the exercise he is made to do has taken off the belly and bloated head he was getting from laying around watching t.v. and playing video games all summer.







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