End of Sixth Grade Football

 This past Tuesday night was the final game of the sixth grade football season. My son was thrilled at the end of the game because his team (I believe they call themselves the "Crimson Kings") beat the only remaining undefeated team of the season, the "Blue Meanies" (okay, that's not their real name; I completely made that up). 

I've concluded that my wife hates going to football games with me (or at least sitting next to me during the game). She says I'm too critical, I'm too competitive, I coach too much from the stands, and I swear way too much.

Of course, she's correct on all charges. 

(editor's note: I'd  like to interject that all of the above criticism, while true, is expressed under my breath in a barely-audible mumble. I'm not one of those obnoxious screaming idiots who embarrass themselves at a silly sixth grade game. Instead, I choose to embarrass myself privately.) 

Anyway, the kids played on the varsity field under the lights on a very crisp, breezy fall evening. I told my son these are going to be great memories for him. Some of my most emotive memories from high school are under those bright Friday night lights with my teammates: the cheering of the crowd, the sting of sweat in the eyes, the smell of the freshly cut field, the flicker of the opponent's jerseys blazing like an enemy's flag... 

But I digress. This is about my boy, not about me. 

According Neil, his team ended with a record of 4-3-1, but the tie game was "sus" (speaking in 12 year-old parlance -- my son talks weird). As the coaching staff told the parents at the beginning of the season, "the coaches don't keep score, but the players do."

19 October 2021. Representing the Crimson Kings

In all, the coaching staff (most are volunteers) did a great job dividing teams into competitive squads, adjusting rosters after two games to make sure one team wasn't a doormat while another team was clearly superior. Parity is very important at this level, and even the Blue Meanies didn't go undefeated.

Playing the undefeated (but not for long) Blue Meanies, 19 October 2021

Neil played an entirely new position on the offensive line this season, learning the basics of center. Oddly enough, this was the position I played in high school as well. 

But his job was much more difficult than mine in my playing days. My high school team ran mostly out of the I-formation with the quarterback directly under center. Neil's team ran exclusively from shotgun formation, which meant he had to snap the football backwards between his legs to the quarterback, lined up roughly four yards behind him... without looking. If you think it is easy, try it!

12 October 2021. Neil at center (red team)

By the end of the season he had adjusted his snapping technique and had gotten pretty darn good at it. (Now to encourage him to keep practicing!)

He also lined up at defensive tackle this year, playing perhaps 50% of those snaps. He said he prefers defense, much to my chagrin. We'll see what the future holds.

Perhaps best of all, he lost at least 10 pounds of baby fat over the last six weeks. He's a svelte dude right now. 

I admit I'm a little envious over his new, slimmed down look. Maybe I should follow his lead and get a little exercise?

I think I will start tomorrow. Or maybe the day after tomorrow. But only if the weather is nice.