My 11 year old daughter will be continuing her track season and long course. She has her first travel meet in Indy this month, still no spectators. My youngest is so excited to stay in a hotel. I’m a bit nervous about safety but figure we can eat outside or get takeout.
My 6 year old is finishing up stroke school and will be ready for swim team in the fall. She really wants to take gymnastics, but I’ve been hesitant. We may try a class this summer now that my husband and I are vaccinated. I would prefer her to do tennis or something outdoors.
Both girls will be swimming on the team at our private swim club starting the end of the month.
DD1 had her first softball game. As predicted, it was a blowout. She did ok in the field, but went 0-3 at the plate. Hopefully they just need more practice.
DD2 tied in her soccer game today. She had to play goal (they rotate) and they scored 2 of the 3 goals against her. The first was just an amazing shot that no one could have stopped. The second was stoppable, but defense kind of fell asleep and there was chaos in front of the net. But she’s totally beating herself up. I’m trying to use it as a teachable moment since she normally plays defense - how important her role is.
Poms is over. Both kids are in spring soccer different leagues. DS’s league is only 3rd grade and above so she didn’t qualify.
We bombed the first game. A lot of it was coaching problems because he never coached before. He didn’t rotate the kids at all like they all played 60 minutes straight. He also kept them in positions too long instead of moving them more often. Like if a player is struggling and melting down ( not a tantrum just exhausted) then pull them... It clearly isn’t working.
He saw the problems and is working to correct them.
We had our first race in the weekly series last night. It was tough. The girls are old enough now that they're in the half mile category, which was a big jump from the last time they did it two years ago, since it was cancelled last spring. But they finished, even with walking, so I was proud of them for that. We're going to work on setting small goals like "run this stretch before I walk" each week. The course is tough. It's not on a regular track, it's a hilly field on grass. But, they had a ton of fun. There's a group of families that we hang out with and all the kids are participating, so they each had a great cheering section when it was their turn.
Post by librarychica on May 3, 2021 9:48:55 GMT -5
We have signed the girls up for 4 weeks of ice skating lessons, venturing tentatively out into the germy extracurricular world! My 6yo is thrilled. THRILLED. I do not know how such a social little being came from her father and I.
edwardo123, at least here in Oregon all the gymnastic gyms are taking it very seriously. The gym smells like a bleach bomb went off with how much they have to sanitize. Plus the kids sanitize between events and when they arrive and before they leave plus masks are mandatory.
DD1 is finishing up her first MS track season. We have learned track blows, I pray she doesn't do it again next year! her long course swim season is just beginning. Has her first meet this weekend, but I don't expect much since she can only got to 1-2 practices a week because of track right now.
DD2 had her gym team try outs yesterday. She made the unsanctioned team in the fall, so this is to officially place her on the team. I can't believe how much more expensive it is. Confirms again for me that swim is the best sport out there for in terms of value for your money.
DD3 is finishing up spring soccer and then she will join the swim team in June. Still does a rec gymnastics class one day a week too.
One of the rules in hosting state gymnastics meets is that you can't host at your gym because of the size of the meet. I just got an email asking us if we were comfortable going to Washington State for the state meet later this month as no event space will rent to the host team. There will be close to 800 gymnast in and out of the space over the weekend.
I will be 100% vaccinated by that weekend (2 weeks after my 2nd shot). Location is 4 hours away. We would more than likely have to go up Friday night. They are saying 2 spectators per gymnast right now.
Am I insane for saying no? DD has been working so hard and I'm afraid if I say no it is going to be held against her.
186momx - I said no to an out of state soccer tournament last October, and that was all outdoors. I didn’t want to stay at a hotel, I didn’t want to use portapotties, and masks were not required at that time. Even if they did enforce masks, I didn’t want to go.
So I don’t blame you about being nervous for an indoor gymnastics meet.
I'm going to price out hotels today. I have to give our answer by 5 tonight. The event location is 20 minutes north of the OR/WA border. They also just announced that the meet is now Friday which I already have off.
DD1 is starting to find her groove with softball. She got her bat on the ball last night, and she was pleased even though she got thrown out. Catching went well, then the coach put her at short stop and she made a couple of good plays.
Most importantly, she seems to have found her people this year. She really, really likes her team. It’s just a nice group of kids. I hope it lasts.
My DD decided to try out for the softball all star team this past weekend. DH and I are really conflicted because she would be so excited to be selected, but we're not sure how we'd handle the travel tournaments with the four kids. Since it's her first season playing, we think it's unlikely she'll make it, but she is one of the oldest in 8U and a head taller than most of the other kids, and she did well enough in the tryout that we're worried she might make it
DS1 is still having two baseball games a week, but I've decided that's a good thing, since he's a lot more focused during games vs. practices.
3-year-old DS2 also wanted to do baseball, and started a 3-5 year old baseball class last weekend. It's pretty adorable. He's the smallest of the four kids and likes to jump over the bases instead of tagging them
sdlaura, dd1 is talking about club softball and my head is going to explode. Its 30-45 mins away from our house, and a full hour from their school. DD2 plays club soccer - practice 2-3 days a week 15-20 mins away, games every other week 45 mins away, tournaments sprinkled around. She also plays town soccer. DD1 plays travel basketball. They both play town basketball when offered. They both play piano. DD1 plays town softball. DD2 wants to pick up lacrosse (and I think she'd be good at it). DD1 told me she wants to try field hockey this fall.
And when in non-COVID times, I can rely on DH for exactly zero transportation. He will certainly do it if he's here, but I can't rely on him to be here because he goes where his clients send him.
Yeah, mae0111 no way would I sign up for year round stuff that far away! If we didn’t have the two younger boys, our potential all star team wouldn’t be so bad, since it’s just for summer and practices are close.
My DD wants to do all the things, but luckily DS1 does not (yet). I’m sure once all four kids have activities, we’ll have to hire driving help. That was my job in college.
mae0111, if she wants to attempt travel softball then she needs to drop a few other activities. Is it really 12 months a year? Travel sports here all have a slower down season. Club Softball runs March to October here. The only sports that don't have downtime here seems to be swimming and gymnastics. Swimming gets a couple weeks off at the end of August but no break between short course and long course seasons.
sdlaura, DD vaulted when she ran to 1st base when she tried t-ball. She used the base as a springboard to rocket off. It was super cute at 5.
Just got off the phone with the gym. I'm glad I said yes to the state meet. If she doesn't tumble at state she will be off the team. They didn't say it like that but it was implied. I didn't tell DD this as she doesn't need the extra pressure. They did say that she has made great progress and that they are really excited with how well she is doing and she should keep during her private lessons as those seem to help her the most.
186momx - it slows down, but it doesn’t stop. DD2 had the month of December off from soccer. Jan and Feb practices were once a week, but they usually have an indoor league, so I don’t know what’s involved.
Softball would have games/practice in the spring, summer, and fall. It’s such a huge commitment. I wish I could find something less intense, but still more than the town rec league that lasts for 6 weeks. It’s not enough time to learn the game. Last night one kid hit the ball and forgot to run. These kids are 11/12 years old! 4-5 year olds I expect that they will forget to run. By 5th/6th grade, RUN!!
mommyatty, basically the back handspring is the most used gymnastic skill and if she can't/won't do it then she won't ever advance. mae0111, depending on how she does we may have through the summer. Why tell a kid who loves the sport they can't do it because they don't progress on your timetable.
Really funny part is that she has the level 4 vault, beam routine, and all floor skills other than the double back handspring and is close on the bar skills. I feel like she is more ready for level 4 than she has ever been for level 3. She scored high 8s and 9s at the meet on the other 3 events. She got a 7.9 on floor last weekend and didn't tumble which lost her a whole point. If she would have tumbled she would have gotten a 8.9 or better on floor. I'm so glad we have Heather who is supportive and positive helping DD. She helped DD make mini goals to get to the big goal.
OMG we just got the phone call that DD made the all star team. Crap! There will be a parent meeting to go over schedule. Of course one of the tournaments is the weekend we’re staying at a fancy hotel in the desert with friends and their kids, and another is when we have flights to Oregon, and we can’t miss two. Ugh....She’s super excited and I’m really proud of her...but now I think I was crazy for letting her try out.
DD1 had a great softball game yesterday. Went 1 for 1 and walked, made some good plays in the field because the coach finally put her in the infield at 2nd. She also played catcher for a few innings and did well.
I just found out that DD2’s awesome soccer coach is moving up to coach the A team next season. It sucks. She’s had 3 coaches with this club - a good one, a terrible one that got fired because he was screaming at the 7 and 8 year olds, and her current awesome one.
There’s no way she will make the A team, nor do I want her to play with that group again. They are all from a different town, go to school together, play in other teams together, and are not inclusive. She’s only 8. I want her to enjoy the game. I just hope she gets a good coach next year.
DD1 has been so difficult at the weekly race series. She's consistently one of the top runners at her Girls on the Run program after school and then refuses to try at the rec races. Last night was really bad. She walked the whole half mile, which made her way behind the rest of her group and held up the next heat. I was so mad. She's been doing a mix of running and walking each week and I've been able to cheer her on to motivate her. Last night her dad was there for the first time and I have to believe part of it was just attention seeking behavior because he was there. He has told me how she behaves terribly at his house and is rude to him. Whatever the reason, it was so embarrassing and she will not be participating anymore if she can't be a good sport and actually try.
DD1 pitched last night for the first time in 2 years. She did great! She pitched fir 2 innings and had 2 strikeouts, one of which was the opponent’s big hitter.
Her team continues to be dreadful. Her coach encouraged her to just get the ball in the strike zone (a huge challenge for most pitcher in this age group) and let her team back her up. So lots of hits (as opposed to lots of walks from many other pitchers - which I count as a win for DD1). But the kids didn’t know what to do once the ball got into the field. One kid ran away from the ball 3 times. One play the ball went to the short stop, she tossed it to 3rd, 3rd baseman caught it by some miracle, stepped on the bag, and promptly launched the ball into centerfield.
WTF???
I expect this when the kids are 5-6, but these kids are 11-12-13!
DD1 stunk at the plate, struck out looking twice. The pitcher was fast and she was scared. More practice needed there for sure!!
Eta - I forgot to add - DD1 was awarded the game ball last night. A few kids from the team invited her out for ice cream after the game. They are not athletes, but she is so, so happy with them. I will continue to be frustrated about the lack of learning and teaching, but she will continue to love it 😊
Post by librarychica on May 22, 2021 15:59:29 GMT -5
My kids are loving skating. We spent two hours at open skate after the 45 minute lesson today. I may need your opinion on beginner skates here soon, k3am. Right now we are renting.
They’re doing very well. I have to really work to keep up with them now and they’ve skipped DD1 up a level. Once this mini-session is over I suspect I’ll be committing for the rest of summer.
My kids are loving skating. We spent two hours at open skate after the 45 minute lesson today. I may need your opinion on beginner skates here soon, k3am. Right now we are renting.
They’re doing very well. I have to really work to keep up with them now and they’ve skipped DD1 up a level. Once this mini-session is over I suspect I’ll be committing for the rest of summer.
You don’t even need an opinion. BUY THE SKATES. Rental skates are the worst ever. You should be able to get a basic pair of Reidels for $75. Buy them at the rink and they’ll sharpen them for you. Our rink pro shop price is about on par with Amazon (that still need to be sharpened). Get yourself a pair too.. your feet are done growing. It was the best decision I’ve made. For kids, you may be able to find a good condition pair on a BST page and just pay for blade sharpening.
I’m so jealous of your free skate sessions! We’re still not there. Boo.
librarychica - are there any used athletic gear shops near you? We have a few and there’s always a ton of hockey gear available. Of course, I’m in MA where you’re super weird if your kid doesn’t play hockey... but you may have luck...