Catch the ball, Win the game!

Being a Dad in the United States, I have been trying to get acquainted with the national sports so that I can share in my boys learning experience, and maybe teach them at least one thing that will help them succeed. I have really been getting into American Football. So much so, that I am actually watching a game while I type this.

I believe the first step to becoming 'US Sport Dad' is to have all the proper equipment, so I bought a regulation size football yesterday. This afternoon, Chris and I went out into the garden to throw it around for the first time. The thing with a regulation size football is that it is about 2 times the size of my sons head and about as long as his arms. This combined with still to be learned co-ordination led to a lot of falling, crying and a little laughing.

As you can imagine the first pass beamed Chris right in the head knocking him clean over, so I decided to tone it down a bit and throw softer. Brave face, no crying though. One of my softer throws hit Chris square on the finger tips. Brave face forgotten, big tears. After some tickling, a mock tackle and rolling him around in the grass he reluctantly agreed to try again. That's my boy!

Of course a pass or so later, a direct hit! Smack in the face. More tears, a nice red mark on the forehead and football has lost it's charm. At least for the moment.