General

The lights may have gone dark at the football stadium at her local high school, says one Texas mom, but the team will be in the hunt for a playoff berth again next fall if only because she knows that this year's MVP (Most Valuable Physician) will be coming back for another season.

What makes Friday Night Lights so special, in Texas and around the country, is more than just football, says one mom; it is also about cheerleaders, drill teams, and marching bands, whose hard work and talent deserve just as much recognition from the community as the other athletes on the field.

With her 11-year-old son just days away from his first game in 11-on-11 tackle football,  a mother in football-crazy Texas pauses to reflect on her journey so far as a football mom.

Pre-season is the critical link between the off-season and the regular season; a time when, typically, training is tough and calorie demands are high. It's also an important time to tackle nutritional issues such as weight loss, cramping, and poor energy levels, since it is the last chance before season begins to address any nutritional habits that can interfere with peak performance.

No matter how talented your child may be, there are going to days when he doesn't play his best, or when, despite his best effort, his team loses.  How you manage both the ups, and the inevitable downs, will play a large role in whether your child has a successful youth sports experience.  Here are ten things to keep in mind after your child's team loses or he doesn't perform up to his expectations.

Kids, especially under twelve, are always seeking their parents' approval. Negative labels and generalizations and criticism can have a devastating emotional impact. If you critique your child's performance, she will interpret your anger, disapproval, and disappointment as meaning that you don't love her anymore-that your love is conditional.

If the world were a perfect place, talking to your child's football coach would be as natural and stress free as talking to your child's teacher. Unfortunately, there is not much that worries and confuses youth sports parents more than talking to their child's coach.

Kids, especially under twelve, are always seeking their parents' approval. Negative labels and generalizations and criticism can have a devastating emotional impact. If you critique your child's performance, he will interpret your anger, disapproval, and disappointment as meaning that you don't love him anymore and that your love is conditional.

Children can start playing Pop Warner football as young as five years old; due to their age and weight, they will be placed in the "tiny-mite" division. There are different age and weight divisions, which are intended to reduce the risk of  injury.