Why soccer snacks at all?

A while back I posted an opinion piece in my soccer team blogs about the need for organized snacks during and after soccer games. I wanted to go into a little more detail on the why of that post.

I've been coaching at the YMCA for about 6 years now. I've seen kids of all shapes and sizes and demographics and family situations. I think that a lot of these kids need organized sports to fill gaps in their lives. They need soccer to help them become better people. I've come to believe that snacks during soccer does more harm than good.

So mid-season this year my teams killed the team snack concept. We rolled it into a BYOS (Bring your own snack) program.

My issues were (in no order):

• It's a pain with all the new allergy issues that kids have.
  I don't get it. Almost no one had allergies when I was a kid. Now it seems there are more that do than don't. Trying to buy the right combination of snacks to please everyone stinks.
• Snack schedules. I hate them.
  I don't want to have to worry about who is not going to make the game on their snack day. I don't need to be called when there's a conflict. The parents don't need to be spending time buying snacks for kids, siblings, refs, coach or whoever.
• Kids don't need more sugar
  Those box juices? Capri suns? God forbid, Gatorade? Kids don't need it. In fact, with the rise of juvenile diabetes they should be avoiding it as much as they can. And the bags of snacks? They are just as bad. But hey, if you know your kids and want to do that . . it's your world, be happy. I just don't want to endorse it for everyone.
• Why are the kids playing? For the food!?!? WRONG!
  Different kids need to be motivated differently but setting up food as a reward can lead to some very serious issues as they get older. Kids should be playing sports to have fun. Parents should have kids play sports so they get exercise (and learn the benefits thereof), learn to work as a team, and have fun. I don't think food should be in that list.

I think it worked out pretty well. For my kids we did water at the breaks and some fruit after the game if it happened to end around normal "snack time." We didn't make it a part of the game though; it was more a "Are you hungry? How fortuitous that we happen to have orange slices here." {OK . .that part is not entirely true . . in our house we are transitioning away from game snacks so there was still an expectation of snack. That should end next season I hope}

Based on what I've read, it seems that fruit and water is the way to go for healthy, tasty, easy soccer snack. We like oranges, grapes (raisins), nuts, and apples.

Pandora and OpenPandora

I love liestening to music. It doesn't matter what kind really. I like it all (in moderation).

I dumped a bunch of CDs that I had onto the PC for easy listening at work but most of my music is cassette-based and until I get a Plusdeck I'm not going to listen to them much. I could repurchase all that music but I'm a cheapskate (and have better places to spend my money).

The music on the PC got old fairly quickly so it was time to find something better.

At about the same time a friend made a DesktopX gadget that loaded this new internet radio called Pandora. I thought I'd give it a try. It was perfect; I got the music I liked plus I was introduced to new music that was similar. It became the first thing loaded on my PC every morning.

Unfortunately, due to upgrades I had to abandon DX on Vista. Fortunately, I found the OpenPandora Project. It has all the benefits with none of the issues.

Right now internet radio and Pandora is having issues with possible rate hikes from the RIAA. If you care about internet radio read up at SaveNetRadio.org and write your CongressCritter.

A Soccer Scrapbook

I wanted to test a new feature of Picasa and the album below brings me some joy. It seems as good a test as any.

Have I mentioned how blessed I am?

In March 2006 my youngest daughter, Miriam, pulled a cup of just-boiled hot cocoa onto her face and got herself severely burned. (original post)

For the past year she has worn a hat and sunscreen to prevent her skin from tanning unevenly and becoming permanently splotched.

These days she's almost scar-free, drinks hot cocoa and can go out for brief periods without the hat.

I wanted to take a moment to thank those people who prayed for her when she was hurt. I want to thank the doctors that took care of her. I want to thank God for all He has done for me (in this and everything).

Miriam Today	Miriam then

YMCA Soccer

The YMCA 2007 Spring soccer season closed out last Saturday. I coached two teams again this season; a 3-4 league and a 6-7 girl's team.

Coaching at the YMCA has taught me so much. Over the 12 or so seasons I've coached I've seen so many different kinds of parents and parenting and coaching and kids. I'm a better person and parent because of the time I've spent with all these people.

For me, it's not as much about the skills on the field but on the team interaction. These kids may or may not play ball ever again but I think they had fun with each other. I think they left the season that sports can be fun and they'll pursue it later. I hope that they do it with me.

So props to the parents, coaches, staff, and the kids. I appreciate everything you did for me.

From 20070428 - Mo...

From 20070505 - Ti...

From 20070324 - Di...

Dino Soccer 2007 (3-4)
Tiger Soccer 2007 (6-7)

The Squirrels are coming!

Yesterday there's the cutest baby squirrel in the yard. All the girls love it and want to cuddle it and name it "Sweety" or some such thing.

But this squirrel is different. It shows no fear. It looks . . . smarter than the average squirrel.

I grab a broom and push it over to a near by tree and call it a day.

This morning I hear a loud "squeak-squeakin'" from the front of the house.

It's back! And it's trying to break in! I try to knock it off the screen with a broom to no avail. I assumed it wandered off while I was in the shower. But it will be back, I know it will.

I'll try to be ready.

For the families of students at Virginia Tech

A thread was started at forum I frequent asking for prayers after the shooting at Virginia Tech. A member there (lokhup) posted the following:

May we all take a breath and wispier sorrows to all those affected,
May we all look at the sight of a sunrise and imagine those souls being lifted to heaven,
May we all hear the sound of angels as they say thank you and goodbye,
May we all pray that the earth will heal our pain of innocent lives being wasted and enlighten our minds that love and kindness of heart is the true path to this life.
Together we can expand to fill the void and our thoughts can make a better world.

Care for the living
Tend to them when they are dying
and pray for them when they are departed.

Wow. Just Wow.

Otter Pops - a post for my sister

Every once in a while I see something that takes me back to my youth. Most of these memories include my sister, The Sister. Flintstone vitamins and "mandatory fun" are the first things that come to mind but every once in a while I'm surprised.

Yesterday was one of those days.

While wandering the local market I saw Otter Pops on an end cap. These are frozen, flavored, sugar water. They have no redeeming qualities from a parent's point of view.

As a child though, I loved them. So, for $0.89US, i got a taste of my childhood.

You don't get value like that too often these days.

So. Here's to you Sister!

Home of the Otter Pops (with music!)

Star Wars as a silent film

Brilliant!

Puppet Show in Bloomington

Miriam and Thaddeus put on a puppet show for The Sister and I. It's fun to see what they'll come up with once they start feeding on each other. In any case, we enjoyed it.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

What a great time of year. Everyone comes together to try to be their best.

My father-in-law was one of Santa's helpers this year (again) and took we took the opportunity while he visited to get some pictures.

Have a great new year!

Santa and my girls

Gwendolyn gets respect!

It seems like it's video week here . .

A friend captured Gwendolyn's entry at the Elm Grove talent show.

The microphone was off for the first half of the performance but she didn't mind too much.

The beautiful woman playing the role of a background singer is my wife, Susan!

It's recital day!

Miriam:


Gwendolyn:

RomanDA Breaks 4 Boards

My friend David sent me a video of him breaking some boards. One MORE reason not to mess with him! Look at the poor guys face when the board hits his hands.

Barenaked Ladies fan video

I haven't posted in forever so we'll just ease into it.

One of those bands I like but never get around to buying had an air-guitar competition: here's a video of the results:

Gene Cole has died

My brother-in-law's father passed away yesterday. Gene seemed a good guy and will be missed.

My thoughts go out to Gene's sons, their wives, and kids.

From an email from my sister:

It is with deep regret that I announce the passing of Gene Cole, Jason’s dad. He died peacefully this morning in the company of some of his family after staying up late watching the Seattle Seahawks win on Monday night football and getting up early to play his computer. For anyone who knew Gene, I don’t know that he could have scripted anything better.

. . . .

Gene always felt like lighting a candle was an excellent way to wish for something or send good thoughts someone’s way. Tonight we talked over a candlelit dinner, reflected on life (Gene’s and ours), and marveled at how truly blessed we are.

Happy Halloween Gwendolyn and Miriam!

Miriam's Storybook parade

She posed the whole way around the parade route. LOL


 

Pumpkin carving

The little girls and I carved some pumkins. They turned out pretty well.

 

Halloween '03 : The last year I dressed up

I know I'm going to regret this.

In 2003 there was a contest at work with basketball tickets on the line. Michelle had wanted to go to a game and this seemed like a good oppertunity to score some tickets.

The night before Susan and I had gone to a Halloween party with her dressed as Leia and me as Luke.

I didn't think either costume would win on its own . . but a combination might.

And it did.

Was it worth it? Yes. And I'd do it again for her.