The air is cooling, the leaves are swirling, and the jerseys are being distributed! It is Fall Sports time! Some of your most joyous moments will be watching your sons or daughters play the sport they love. In order to make those game and practice times even more enjoyable, take some time to get yourself organized for the parenting that comes with it!
Sports take up a lot of an athlete’s extra time. The commitment to play a sport may add up to 10-15 hours a week, depending on the level and team. This could cause you or your co-parent to object or regret your child’s involvement in the sport altogether. Early communication and transparency in the level of commitment of each sport will help set expectations as well as prevent you from feeling buyer’s remorse and focus more on being your kids’ biggest fan! Here are some examples of discussions you should have.
What is this going to cost?
As many of you know, sports come with fees. Jerseys, field fees, umpire fees, equipment, tournament fees, all of these things come with a high price tag. Between bats, cleats, gloves, and uniforms, each parent may need to contribute a few hundred dollars to divide the burden of all of these purchases evenly. If the discussion has already occurred between parents and both agree to split the cost, then make sure to save receipts.
Try to be reasonable with expenses and share the amount spent – with receipt – as early as possible. The court does not often require that both parents split the cost of these extracurricular activities that are not mandatory. So it is important to keep that in mind and be grateful for voluntary contributions. If the sport is important to you, it may mean you have to bear the burden of cost on your own. Make sure to keep this in mind as well when deciding whether or not Junior should sign up.
Practice Schedule
Unless the practices or rehearsals for the extracurricular fall sports always align with your custody schedule, make sure to communicate everything required for each practice. This includes location, times, weekdays, length, policies regarding equipment needed during practice, and whether or not parents are required to remain on the field to watch practice or whether drop-offs are allowed. Giving the necessary information in writing is best so that both parents can reference the information easily. It will also be good for your player to know that Mom and Dad know what is expected from him or her.
Game Schedule
The moment of truth, all those practices have paid off and now you get to watch as your talented little mini takes the field. Be sure to share that game schedule as soon as it is available, along with the location, time, and opponent. If there is an opportunity for parents to purchase spirit wear, let your co-parent know so that he or she can also show his or her spirit at games with a team t-shirt, hoodie, or hat. Watching both parents cheer him on will do wonders for your athlete’s self-confidence. Remember to share the information for picture days and purchases of extra memorabilia such as trading cards, team photos, trophies, medals, and buttons as well.
Extra Opportunities – Fall Sports & Your Custody
Some teams have additional volunteer opportunities to help make the season run more smoothly. If you played Little League and would like to lend a hand, sign up for coaching or managing a team. What if organization is your jam? You can volunteer as a team parent. Do you like to dabble in the kitchen? Sign up for a team snack to give to the players after the game. You can participate in your child’s life in many ways through sports, whether or not you have experience in that sport. Ask your district for those opportunities, and remember to share them with your co-parent.
It is true that “the days are long, but the years are short.” One day, you will wake up, and there won’t be anyone to take to practice. Enjoy the ride. In order to make participation in sports fun for everyone, keep in mind that unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Enjoy being your child’s #1 fan while you can!
Do you have questions about fall sports and your child custody? We at Burgos Santoyo Smith would love to help answer those questions. Reach out and contact us today.