Time and money are needed for a child to play sports. What happens when there is not enough of either? The amount of time required for a child to attend team practice, games, and home practice requirements can be stressful on an already full schedule. The financial commitment can be tough to manage on a tight budget.
Families who have children in school or local sports know that the cost can be high. Fees, travel, and the cost of private lessons if needed can reach upward of hundreds of dollars. Budgeting for these sports can be hard, especially for those that require full body protection.
Some sports, such as basketball or running, don't require anything but proper shoes and possibly a ball.Some sports, like baseball and soccer, require special shoes and only minimal safety gear. Other contact sports, such as hockey, lacrosse, or football require full body protection. The gear require for hockey includes skates, gloves, pads, hockey helmets, neck guards, sticks, and more. This list could run a price tag of a couple hundred dollars, and more if you add the team jersy and socks. The gear required for football and lacrosse is similar, although you may not use a football or hockey helmet when playing lacrosse, and vice-versa. Using anything other than a lacrosse helmet is illegal.
Sports teams play against many different opponents. Some are easy to defeat, and some are not so easy. One such opponent, is cancer. With numerous marathon races, games, and tournaments, there are lots of ways athletes participate in fundraising for cancer research.
In Meadville, PA, a local hockey team raises money every October for cancer, with an event called "Pink the Rink." This event basically allows individuals to pledge a certain dollar amount for each goal, or even just a set donation for cancer research.
A lacrosse tournament in Ohio supports cancer research. A St. Vincent lacrosse teammate who participated in the tournament sold cancer supporting jerseys and pinnies to campus members as well as tournament attendees, to further support cancer research.
A few teams across the country went the extra mile and shaved the locks under their lacrosse helmets to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. One was the SUNY Plattsburgh lacrosse team, where every year, since 2008, they host an event and shave their heads for the cause.
In North Carolina, another team did a similar fundraising event. The teammates and coach raised just over $24,000 in honor of a local women's basketball coach. Near the end of fundraising, during the UNC Homecoming football game, their heads were shaved out in the open. One admittedly reluctant player lost locks that were near his shoulders.
With winter comes the end of the fall/summer sports season. However, this is not the end out outdoor fun or sports. There are a lot of great sports to do, even in the winter months. These four sports are perfect for the cold and a lot of fun:
Ice-skating. Whether at a rink, or at a frozen-over pond, ice-skating is a favorite winter pastime. It should be noted that outdoor ice skating can be dangerous, as it is possible for there to be thin ice, so please be cautious, and pick a location with that in mind. Ice-skating rinks also have handlebars along the side of the rink, which makes it easier for beginners to learn.
Lacrosse. This can be played year-round with the right uniform and lacrosse equipment. There are longer sleeved uniforms available for cold weather, and some places even have lacrosse played indoors. Either way, lacrosse is a popular sport, and if there isn’t a local team it shouldn’t be too hard to create one.
Indoor Soccer. Another great indoor sport is soccer. The uniform and rules are the same; the game is simply held indoors. Some facilities even use AstroTurf in order to imitate the warmer conditions. Very often, indoor soccer is offered to both children and adults, so keep an eye out to see what is available.
Skiing. Perfect for a family vacation or a solo trip, skiing is one of the most popular winter sports. There are a variety of trails, difficulty levels, and places that it can be done. Look at what’s available nearby or far away, and make plans accordingly.
Get to a rink, hit the slopes, or find the available indoor sport, and have a great winter.
I am concerned with the recent NBA trend of a few teams possessing vast amount of talent. While the season outcome is hard to determine, it is clear the championship will be won by one of roughly 4 teams. While teams like Chicago and Oklahoma have a couple superstars with a really strong supporting cast, the real competition will be between Miami and Los Angeles. Los Angeles has a small edge as it has been able to attract several veterans who have been willing to take a big salary hair cut in hopes to win. While Los Angeles has built a powerful team, having a team of old veteran players may backfire as it did with the Kobe, Shaq, Malone, and Payton.
There are several types of teams that lose in this environment: Teams in big markets that don’t have a long term anchor superstar like the Denver Nuggets, Indianapolis Pacers, and Philadelphia 76ers, teams in smaller markets but have been competitive in the past like the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Hornets, Utah Jazz, and the Portland Trailblazers, and then there are the teams who have no chance like the Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, and the Sacramento Kings.
The real tragedy is when teams like the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Dallas Mavericks who have been able to attract a considerable level of talent but have performed at a sub-par level. The Knicks epitomize this more than any other team with its lackluster performance during the 2011-2012 season: I have never seen a more talented group do so little. How many teams could benefit from the likes of Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, or a Jeremy Lin? I am not sure Carmelo or JR Smith add much value to team cohesiveness but are still great players that could help most teams be somewhat competitive.
I miss the days when there were several contenders at the beginning of every season with one or two favorites. It is clear Miami will dominate for several years to come and the primary competition will come from the likes of Los Angeles and Oklahoma City. I hope talent spreads throughout the NBA to make the season and championship less predictable.
The only thing that should be predictable in sports is the experience: close parking at the New Orleans Arena, or the great public transit near Madison Square Garden. Proximity to the city, means easy access to shops, One Touch Ultra Mini retailers, and restaurants for when you're done with the game.