Fall sports have always been a part of our homeschooling curriculum. When our oldest was four years old, we signed him up for his first soccer experience and he loved learning how to kick the ball with his feet and playing on his little team of 4-year-old soccer players! And since that time all of our children played fall and spring soccer.
It’s hard to believe but we have now had 14 years of soccer team experience behind us, and Mr. Pete has coached half of them! For us as homeschoolers, it has given our children a chance to grow and develop with their teammates over the course of many seasons. They become friends and learn to work together to achieve a common goal. But that sense of community among the kids translates over to the parents as well. Over the years the parents get to know each other and eventually the kids share rides to games and practices. Some of my best memories of soccer involve some of the warm conversations I had with other soccer parents and sitting on the sidelines together cheering or comforting our players.
We have been very fortunate that two of our sons eventually went on to win championships with their teams that they played on from age 9 to 14. I can remember seasons where they didn’t win a single game, and yet their coaches continued to teach, encourage and inspire. Their championships in the last seasons together was testament to the devotion and hard work from the coaches, players and the parents!
Our oldest has also swum on a swim team since he was 9 years old. Calvin was the kid who was always fidgety, active, and hard to control. But put in the water for a couple of hours he was a completely different kid. I don’t know if I could have homeschooled Calvin to 8th grade if he had not been involved in swimming. I’m sure many people think of swimming as a summer sport, but the truth is the short course season starts in the fall and ends around March. This will be Calvin’s last swimming season and I’m finding myself a little sad about that. I NEVER thought I would miss the practices, and the expense. (OK, I won’t miss the swimming fees!) Swimming has given Calvin the discipline and drive that he lacked and I’m grateful that we were able to provide it for him. I hope he reaches his goal of making it to State this year.
Our newest fall sport has been cross country. Three years ago when my best client dropped me (just three weeks before my scheduled C-section!) I knew I wasn’t going to be able afford the swim team for five children. Cross country seemed to be a good alternative and it actually became a blessing. The five kids that have participated in it have built up endurance and strength that shows when they play soccer with their teams, or football here in the hood! It’s a sport that they will be able to practice well into adulthood; all they need are a pair of shoes and a place to run!
From my perspective as a homeschool mom, this physical activity is a nice change from the rest of our school day and having a chance to interact with kids from all over the city for just a couple of hours a week has been a good experience for them too.
I know all of these sports drive me crazy when they start in the fall. I am so reticent to leave the lazy days of summer to start driving to practices and working around the sports schedules. But the truth is I also enjoy watching my children grow and develop in something that they enjoy, and our family has been so blessed by the wonderful people these activities have brought into our lives.
Please browse my eBay items!
Visit my new Amazon Store!
