- If you're not 15 minutes early, you're late. Practice may be scheduled to start at 3pm, but if you're not on that field, with your helmet and pads on by 2:45pm, you're late. And coach will call you out on it!
- They will be tired. The only time No. 1 has napped since he was a toddler, is when he had the flu last Winter. I can't tell you how many times I've witnessed him fall asleep, with the lights on!
- They will eat you out of house and home. A gallon of milk ain't got nothing on my boy! His typical post-practice meal consists of two bowls of cereal, two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and a protein shake. Oh, and then he eats dinner...
- They will stink. High school sweat is in a league all of it's own! (Click HERE for my tips on cleaning equipment.)
- They wash their own uniforms. Yes mama, you read right! I learned this at our parent meeting last week. Game uniforms do not come home, so they will take turns washing them after each game. That's one less funky thing for them to bring into your house! #WINNING
- It takes a village. Before school starts, they practice six days a week, almost always during the work day. Unless your child lives within walking distance or you work from home, you will definitely need to get with your fellow football mamas asap to set up a carpool. I don't know what I'd do without my tribe!
- Coaches still need our help. When I dropped No. 1 off for picture day, I happened to bump into one of his coaches and decided to ask him if they could use any help. His response, "Yes, please! We can always use help!". Even the head varsity coach echoed what he said. From passing out jerseys, to serving pre-game meals, to filming games, to taking tickets, to fundraising...they still need AND WANT us, mamas! (Click HERE for 10 ways you can volunteer to help!).
While high school football is definitely a big change from youth, I'm excited (and a bit nervous, I won't even lie!) for the season to begin.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy football season.
GO TEAM!!!
*** Click HERE to read 7 things I learned in my first season as a high school basketball mama!
You got this Mama! I’m starting kiddo 3 on the high school team. So this will be my 7th year of high school football and your 7 observations are spot on. This year I’m providing doughnuts for Saturday film in addition to snack bar help etc. Momas still wanted and you’ll make great new sport mama friends.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And wow, 7 years as a HS football mama. That is amazing. I definitely know who to come to for advice! And I absolutely LOVE the donut idea-I probably would've never even thought of that. Good luck to you both this season! XO
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