Dads and Friends

One of the unexpected pleasures of J.P.'s involvement in sports (baseball, basketball and soccer) has been the number of new friends Jude and I have through our interactions with his teammates' parents.

As I've mentioned in this space before, the same nucleus of boys has stayed together and played all three sports.  It's worked out well, as I've coached fall and spring baseball, with other dads helping me.  I get to watch basketball and soccer, pitching in when needed, while other dads coach those sports.  It's worked well.

It's such a nice thing to walk into the basketball gym - as I did at David Lipscomb Elementary School Saturday morning - and sit down with friends to watch our sons play basketball together.  Parents and grandparents, all of whom know each other and are comfortable with each other, talking and laughing   easily as the game started.

The men who help me coach baseball and who coach J.P. in basketball and soccer are all good, fun, solid family men.  They're guys I would be friends with even if our boys didn't play sports together.  Of course, I wouldn't know them if our boys didn't play sports together.  That's the point, I guess.  Russ, Will, Chris, Dan and Will.  All good guys.

I'm curious if the same type of thing will develop with other parents when Joe starts playing sports this spring, when I coach his baseball team.  I've got a great group of kids and parents lined up to play baseball on our team, but I'm wondering if it will be the same.  I hope so.