"The Season" is upon us once again

[Ripsnort]

Those of you with children that play sports knows how much parental dedication goes into any given sport. Tackle football in particular is a crusher...practice for our Junior Football program (5 teams, divided into weight and age groups from 7 to 14 years old) goes 5 nights a week, 2 hour practices, and games on the week-end.  It starts Aug. 1st and finishes around Mid-november.  This is our 5th season of tackle football for our oldest child. 

One of the "proud moments" for me was last fall;
Shown below is the Offensive and Defensive MVP's of the Puget Sound Junior Football Superbowl (My son is to the right) His team went 11-0 is which rare in any sport, at any level of play.

The reason I post this picture is that our season starts once again next Friday, which is the busiest time of year for my sports photography business.  Our family's life is tackle football beginning Aug. 1st and ending late November.  It's basically an 18 hour day, 6 days a week, with work, practice, and "work" shooting kids with a camera. Its fun, pays for a hobby, but tiring all at the same time.. times like below make it all worth while when your own kid gets the MVP of a superbowl...My son won the MVP for defense...one of the nicest kids you'd ever meet...until you hold a football across from his linebacker position.



The picture below is called "Game face".  A warrior prepares to take the field, focusing on nothing but football. The helmut was in prestine condition without a mark 3 months before, but the afternoon this picture was taken, before the kick off of the Puget Sound Superbowl, the helmet reflects a story for each gouge and scratch, each one is a story my son would be glad to tell you if you have the time....

[Serenity]

I always wished we had football for kids out here... GREAT photos, especially the second one.

[Nilsen]

excellent photo quality Rip 

[Rich46yo]

Congratulations. I coached kids football for 10 years, after I came home from the service. A couple of the teams I had, 8yo to 11yo's, won National championships.

It was a real discipline game for kids, "I know I played myself". We practiced, in August, 6 days a week for 3 &1/2 hours a day. 5pm to 830 pm Mon-Fri, and 0900 to 1200 on Sat. Once we got into Sept., and school started, we practice Tues.,Thurs., Sat., and played games on Sunday. I played for the same team as a kid and I still have trophies from our two NTL Championship years.

My secret to producing winners was to never allow a kid to fail. And it was fun, for 3 months a year we were like one big family.

I hope your shooting a lot of video Rip. Your going to love watching these games after you son grows and goes on his own. I have a video Library of all my kids ballgames. He never played football but he does play everything else.

[Ripsnort]

Holy crap...too much beer sends me immediately into "Proud Daddy Mode" late at night.  Where is the delete button, Skuzzy?

[bj229r]

I'm glad not every kid is playing football's gay cousin, soccer

[Baitman]

Good kid there Rip

Wish I could have played when I was young (we only had touch football what is the sense there) so I played Rugby instead.

[texasmom]

*

[Shifty]

This is a pic of my youngest son Trevor. He played QB and Safety for the  Rains HS JV last year here in Texas.

This year he is a Junior and slated to be starting at both on Varsity. I can't wait for the Friday Night Lights.

I can't get the picture to post just a link to the page with his pic on it. # 11. 

http://rlcrowphotography.exposuremanager.com/p/9_26_07_jv_vs_brownsboro/9-21-07_jv_vs_browns-25545

[Ripsnort]

Great looking kid~ You gotta be proud of that boy, Shifty! 

[Shifty]

Thanks Rip right back at you. I've enjoyed the pics you've posted of your son last year. Fine looking young man, I hope he has a great season.
<S>

[Ripsnort]

Thanks Shifty. I know the parental dedication you've been through and throughly admire any parent that has gone the distance as you and your family has in this sport. It can drain you due to the nature of practices.

Good luck with your son's sport this year!

[Shifty]

TY Sir.