Football Opening Weekend

When we got back from our Tahoe vacation, we had missed the Football Team Parent Meeting, and really didn't get to de-brief the information with any of the other families. The coach sent us the docs in an email with the practice schedule, fundraising info, league philosophy and the field parking rules. We read thru them all and kind of laughed off the latter as there were diagrams and overflow lots that were serviced with shuttles, we just figured it was just being overly hyped and it wouldn't be that big a deal once we got started on the season.

Well the first game of the season was this weekend and boy were we wrong. Game days are run run like a well olied machine, with overflow parking lots (which we parked in....the correct one based on our field designation for Saturday) and the shuttle bus (which we rode to the field and back with about 20 other people each way). The parking lot at the field was so full that there were cars lining the medians, all of the side streets as well as the cemetary parking lot up on the bluff that overlooks the field. There was also a line of tow trucks about ten deep towing cars that were parked where they weren't supposed to be, so off the the proper overflow lot we went.

Come to find out that team come from 1-2 hours away to play games at this field (we have a road trip to Mountain Home in a couple of weeks which is three hours round trip ourselves) so it would have made a little more sense. Also, if we had stopped and done the math we would have known as well; there are 16 fields that each host one game per hour for seven hours on Saturdays. So, there are roughly 112 games going on at this field over the course of a Saturday. Add in concession staff, parents, siblings, cheerleaders and this little park is a madhouse on game day.

However, as I said before it is VERY well run and we had a great time both soaking in the atmosphere and watching Jake's game. They won 12-6 and Jake did great. He made a few tackles, broke up a few passes and saved a touchdown by chasing a breakaway ALLLLLL the way down the field and getting the guy before he could get into the endzone. He never gave up, did what he was supposed to do and was where he was supposed to be. The most important this was he had a blast. He loves his team and coaches and really has fun playing.