Flag Football is the bomb! We had a great season! The team was awesome! All the kids and their parents were really, really nice and that makes all the difference in the world. It was the first time Breck played the game and he did a fantastic job! He really enjoys it, so much so that he asked it he can play again in the fall. When we told him he had soccer in the fall, he thought for a moment before replying, "I can play both, right?" Good times!!
And of course, he had the world's greatest coach...his Dad!
His last game was the best! As parents we try everything we can think of to motivate our kids to try their best. Breck has so much potential as an athlete. He just seems to hesitate. On the way to his last game, out of the blue, came a brilliant idea (yet not an original, look here ), a "motivational" idea! I told Breck that if he pulled an opponents flag I would give him $5! He got so excited about the prospect of $5 that I couldn't resist "motivating" him with a little more... I told him if he scored a touchdown he could buy a new Nintendo DS game! The boys eyes lit up!
The "motivating" factors started to work almost immediately! During the first half when our team was on defense, Breck pulled the "$5" flag, stopping a touchdown run! He yelled, all the way across the field, "Mom...that's 5 bucks!" The mom's sitting around me gave me a questioning look? Which lead me to explain my brilliant "motivational" idea to them resulting in a few laughs and giggles! I knew that pulling the flag was a big deal, I mean we are talking 5 bucks, so I wondered what the second half would bring?
The second half was when "it" happened. The play was a fake pass to another receiver and then to Breck! It was glorious! Breck reached out and caught the pass with his fingertips, pulling the ball to him, and cradling it as he ran up the length of the entire field to score the world's greatest touchdown!! I will forever remember the ear to ear grin and the excited & surprised saucer eyes he had on his face as he ran full speed (we are talking Donte Stallworth speed) up the field as Summer & I jumped up and down screaming, "Run Breck, RUN!!!" while the other Mom's chanted "DS, DS, DS, DS." It wasn't the winning touchdown in the last second's of the superbowl...it was BETTER!! IT. WAS. AWESOME!! So awesome!
That night, with a new $5 bill in his pocket, Breck & I headed out to Target to buy him that new DS game!!! As we walked through the store, hand in hand, chatting about the details of "the world's greatest touchdown" I could not have been more proud as I glanced over at Breck and saw the pride in his eyes and the biggest, sweetest smile on his handsome little face! He was happy with his effort...happy with his success...happy with his reward...and he felt GOOD...GREAT in fact...and really, isn't that what life is about?
Breck your amazing! I loved this blog post, I thought that was the best idea and I love how great Breck did! I smiled the whole time reading this post. GREAT JOB on the WINNING touchdown!!! I love the pictures of him too,they are wonderful!
Posted by: Calixta | July 06, 2009 at 03:54 PM
I love the motivational ideas. I tried something similar with RJ for soccer but we did not have the same success. How cool that he was able to get a touchdown and the reward. Yay for your genius idea!
Posted by: Stacy | July 06, 2009 at 07:07 PM
HOW AWESOME! I love those pictures- he truly is Vallen in miniature. Great Job Breck!
Posted by: ciria | July 07, 2009 at 07:10 AM
A Dallas Cowboy in the Making!!!! Awesome pictures! Love ya!
Posted by: diana | July 07, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Go Breck!
Posted by: shawnie | July 18, 2009 at 09:46 PM