Having gone to college at Penn State, I know all about tailgating. The parties and spreads around Beaver Stadium that start many hours before kickoff are legendary, and all the open space to throw football and hang out with old friends makes tailgating on a nice fall afternoon hard to beat.

My kids have heard these stories but had not experienced a tailgate for themselves. Though the like sports, they've never expressed much interest in football. A few weeks ago, though, my extended family went to a University of Maryland football game.

We tailgated for about 90 minutes before the game, and the kids loved it. And what's not to love. Eating good food, throwing the football, telling stories and talking with neighboring tailgators made the time go by very quickly.

Once at the stadium, the kids learned a new cheer that people in our section broke into every time Maryland got a first down, and by the end of the game the kids had it down cold.

On the drive home they both talked about how much fun the tailgate was, and how we needed to allot more time for tailgating the next time.

Next year it will be a pilgrimage to Penn State, where the kids will get to experience both tailgating and hopefully football at its finest on a nice fall day in Happy Valley. This is something I've wanted to do since my kids were born, and it's funny to think that my son is already planning the tailgating menu. It should be a great day.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 10:56 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

There's no better time than between Thanksgiving and Christmas to thank those people who make our youth sports experiences possible.

Whether you're a youth sport athlete, parent or coach, there are many such people, most of whom volunteer their time for our benefit. Take a few minutes to think about all the people who play a role in your or your family's youth sports experience and let them know how much you appreciate their efforts.

If you're like me, such acts will make both you and the recipient feel good, and how many other free "gifts" can you say that about?

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 10:48 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

When the Boston Celtics acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join their own superstar, Paul Pierce, during the offseason, among of the most-asked questions were how well would these three players share the basketball and whether they would lower their individual numbers for the good of the team.

A week and a half into the NBA season, the early results are impressive. The Celtics are off to a 6-0 start, their best start in 20 years. Boston's big three are all leaders. All three are used to scoring 20 points a game, Garnett is a very good defensive player and rebounder and an intimidating presence in the middle, while Allen and Pierce are scorers with great outside shots. Needless to say, if these three continue to use their talents for the team's best interests, the Celtics may well be the class of the Eastern Conference a year after finishing 24-58, the second worst record in the NBA.

The lesson here for youth sports athletes and coaches is the value of team play. Remember that the Chicago Bulls did not win any titles with Michael Jordan trying to do it all himself. It was only after he included his teammates more that the Bulls won 6 NBA titles in 8 years.

Eventually, youth sports stars will play with or against other equally talented players, and the sooner they buy into the team concept and get their teammates involved the better their team will be. No matter how good a player is, opposing defenses can usually shut him or her down if there are no other threats. As the old saying goes, there is no I in team, and the sooner star athletes understand the benefit of teamwork, the better players and team leaders they will be.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 11:51 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)