So one of my buddies asked me what I plan to do for Father’s Day.  My automatic response was, “Chill on the couch, watch the U.S. Open and maybe a ballgame, and just relax.”

And why not?  It’s the first week in the past two and a half months I don’t have lacrosse games to coach or other similar commitments.

Funny thing, though.  Many of us fathers think we get a day off from fathering and parenting this Sunday—a day we have a built-in excuse to NOT father.

Shouldn’t be the opposite?  Shouldn’t we make sure we plan time with our wives and kids to celebrate the whole fatherhood thing?

That’s my Father’s Day Challenge!  Let’s all try to find a little time to get in the backyard with our kids…and play ball, chase ‘em around, run through a sprinkler.  Anything that let’s us see, feel, and enjoy being a father.  Life is short, and these memories will make a more lasting impression than taking a nap in the hammock. 

It may be counterintuitive, but that’s exactly how Fathers Day should be spent….at least until the last U.S. Open group gets to the 17^th tee!

Doug 

Posted by Doug Donaldson at 05:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Time and knowledge—those are the two biggest barriers I’ve found to sharing sports experiences with my son Jack.  As for time, it does seem like it is a definite commitment—practices, games, and so on. 

It’s not always easy finding that time.  Often, Jack and I just go in the backyard, usually to play soccer or lacrosse.  We get out there and make up our own fun games to play; for these times, it’s not about constantly getting better and better and pushing him to excel.  That’s for practice and for games.  This is about fun and time spent together.  Of course, Jack sees it as a time to show he can beat me 1 v. 1 with his new dribbling or stick skills!

Doug 

Posted by Doug Donaldson at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Teachable moments.  Within 60-120 seconds, our coach or athlete introduces the technique, demonstrates it step-by-step, and explains its context and importance within the game.  That’s our magic formula.  And we hope our sports videos are engaging for youth athletes and are accessible for their parents—whether that sport is basketball, football, soccer, or any other game.

Doug

Posted by Doug Donaldson at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)