Football

Jack is now in full tackle football. In Verona, they start in 4th grade. He has been counting the days since Kindergarten! I admit I was a bit nervous about it....I even asked if he would rather play golf. You can't really get hurt that bad playing golf, right? Nope, football all the way! Verona has so many kids in the Youth Football League that they have to split them into 3 teams (White, Orange & Black). Jack and 2 other boys in our neighborhood were drafted onto the Orange team. Yep, I said drafted. All the 4th grade boys get together for 3 days of helmet only practice and go through drills (kicking, passing, tackling, ect) and then all the coaches sit down and "draft" the players they want. Each team is supposed to be pretty equally weighted with good kickers/passers/tacklers so one team isn't at a huge advantage. Jack is also blue chipped this year. If you are over 95 pounds in 4th grade you have to play the line. You can't run the ball at all. It is for safety sake (for the 50 pounders). So, Jack being 106 pounds is on the line and he is EXCELLENT at it. He loves it.

So far his team...Verona Orange..is undefeated (4-0). We have traveled to Poynette, WI Heights and last week Monroe for his games (with 1 at home)! Talk about a long day for the girls :). We usually have to be at the game 1 hour before it starts and then we sit there waiting for the game to start and then sit through a 2 hour game. Kate isn't fond of football when she can't get down on the wet grass.

If anyone is interested in seeing him play we have a game at Verona this coming Saturday (10/10) at 8:30 a.m. and then the following 2 Saturdays we know we play one at home and one away but we won't know the times/places until after this game. Those are playoff games I guess....serious business! I am just happy he is having fun. His nickname from the coaches is 'smiley'....from the players it's 'gassy' (sorry guys). So, here is our favorite player....NUMBER 2!

1st game at Poynette. It was close to 90 that day...I felt so bad for the boys!

"Smiley"

(sometimes he gets to kick the ball)

Stopping his guy