Start Smart

For the past four Saturdays, Austin has been participating in a class called Start Smart. The class is offered to 3 & 4 year olds, or Pre-K students in a couple of our cases. It's an introduction to the fundamentals of sports. Each Saturday the kids (and their parent) rotate stations of throwing, catching, batting and kicking.

They start out by stretching first.



Then we make our way around to the different stations.

(Nice high water pants Mom!)











As you can see, Abigail thinks she's a participant also!







As you can see, they have a blast!





Each week, the stations have gotten a little harder. Instead of hitting off a tee, we're now pitching to the kids. The throwing station has turned into a basketball station. The kicking station has goals set up and the kids are learning how to run and kick the ball at the same time. And the catching station now involves using a glove to catch.

They have also incorporated a game of baseball or soccer into each class. This past Saturday Coach Norma got out her big parachute and the kids got to play the popcorn game. They also had to run under the parachute when Coach Norma called their name. Nine times out of ten, all of the kids ran under it no matter who's name she called out.

At the end of each class they all help clean up, get a sticker and whine (and sometimes cry) that they have to leave the class.

Austin is going to miss the last class because we'll be in Michigan, but I think we're going to sign him up for the next session. The next session will concentrate strictly on soccer. He'll also miss the first class of the session, but he's advanced enough in soccer that he really won't miss anything. It will also be nice because Daddy will be home for most of the classes. It's hard chasing Abigail around and trying to participate with Austin. Plus Daddy really enjoys going to the classes and I enjoy that we all get to do something as a family.