What My Dad Taught Me About Sports

Ever since I can remember, my Dad was my coach. He was always there for me, supporting me in victory and consoling me in defeat. Before I even knew what sports were, he had sneakers and ice skates on me and he took me with him every night to play sports. We were not a lazy family. If we weren’t climbing mountains, we were skating on the ice. If we weren’t running 5K races, we were riding our bikes. I think the two most important things my Dad taught me were (1) always get out there an exercise, and (2) girls can do anything that boys can do. He also taught me that some of the best athletes out there might not be recognized publicly as great athletes until much later in life. This was recently re-emphasized to me when my Dad finally was able to get his friend and basketball teammate, Ronnie Bostick, posthumously inducted into the Class of 2016 Saratoga Blue Streaks Athletic Hall of Fame.  My Dad was asked to give a 4-min introductory speech. It was my chance to help my Dad, a role reversal after all those years. For over two months, my Dad and I worked on his speech. I videotaped him as he talked about his friend’s athletic accomplishments. We shortened the speech and simplified it. This month, I was proud to see my Dad up there at the podium. After all these years, 44 to be exact, my Dad is still teaching me that sports are an important part of life – from character, to perseverance, to diversity, and accomplishment. Thanks Dad for all your instilled in me as an athlete.

​Visit us at www.besporthappy.com for more info on the 35 sports available for kids in Saratoga ages 3-13. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/besporthappy or join our Be Sport Happy Saratoga Equipment Exchange group on Facebook and exchange used sports equipment with other Saratoga families: www.facebook.com/groups/besporthappy. Also find us at www.healtheconcessions.com and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/healtheconcessions.​