Sports parents

So let's just say I've been spending many an hour in the bleachers these last few weeks. Mostly outside at softball tournaments for upwards of 12-14 hours a day but sometimes in a gym watching basketball or volleyball too. I've always been sorta fascinated with humans and their reactions and enjoy watching the different breeds of folks out there. So lately, with all my bleacher time, I've enjoyed observing all the sports parents that I've spent so many hours in close quarters with.

Sports parents, just like regular society, come in all shapes and sizes, and all different personality types. Ya got the ones all decked out in the latest sports gear in their team's colors, matching tennis shoes and perfect nails and haircuts, then you have the ones that threw on any ol' t-shirt, shorts and flip flops whether they matched or not, and finally the ones that are more in the middle, like myself that attempt to wear my kid's team color, plain shorts or jeans and some comfortable shoes.

Ya have some parents that haul in sports coolers packed to the gills with every protein bar and health drink, the latest sports training gear, and expensive sunscreen and cooling towels. Then you have the parents who show up with basically nothing. Maybe a lawn chair and a half drank Dr. Pepper. And finally you have folks more like me that bring a small snack bag, some water bottles and a bleacher chair. Not too much but enough to get you through a game or two.

As far as personalities go, you have the parents that are coaching their kids the entire game through the fence, or don't ever sit down but stand behind the dugout constantly giving their kid tips. Or you have the parents that have decided the umpires and refs are obviously clueless and badger them the whole game, but only if it's their kid's team that's losing. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the parents that know absolutely nothing about the sport they're watching and just smile and cheer anytime, even if they're team is down by 20. (Those parents crack me up! They're so happy!)

And there's always those one kind of parents that show up to the game mad and sit in the bleachers mad, mumbling under their breath at whatever irritates them, their kid, the coaching, the umpire, etc. They think no one notices, but I do. Or the parent that is present but on their cell phone the whole game, totally checked out. However, one of my favorites, and only because I wish I could be one, are the parents that sit and watch quietly and don't say anything unless it's encouraging and complimentary. They smile and clap occasionally, never give the ref are hard time and when the game goes sour, they feel bad but not angry.

And then there's me. A little mix of everything in some form or fashion but probably more of the norm. I have done the coaching from the stands and behind the dugout which sometimes helps, depending on the age. I have badgered many a ref or ump and probably still will from time to time. There have been sports my kids played that I knew very little about so I was just happy to be there and smiled and cheered for whatever they did, and I am guilty of showing up to a game already mad and sat through the whole game, determined to be mad. But as much as I would like to sit quietly and be like my favorite parent, I have found that I cannot. I am either cheering like a crazy woman or yelling when something goes wrong. I get into the game emotionally and as hard as I try to remain neutral, I just can't seem to cut it.

So if you see me standing up, hooting and hollering with my arms raised high cheering for my daughter, just either cheer with me or ignore me. If you see me griping about a call or hear me grumbling about an unmade basket or bad defense, forgive me and again, just ignore me.

Were all cut from a different mold and no one is perfect. Just enjoy the variety and in the end, enjoy the game!