There is no question that high school student athletes appreciate when their parents attend their games, matches, meets, or events, but for many of those student athletes, having their parents there is not all that big of a deal.

Student athletes expect their parents to attend every event of theirs they possibly can because, as I would tell my parents, theyíre obliged to.

Growing up playing youth sports, then on to high school sports I had at least one parent at just about every single little league, football, soccer and hockey game I played.

I know attending my football games for the one year I played in the fifth grade may not have been all that enjoyable as I got in on only one play all season, but my parents were still there.

When my sister was a cheerleader when she was in the fifth grade, then moved on to play volleyball my parents were always there.
I have to say, each time I looked up into the stands it was good to see them. When my teams were losing big it was nice to see their comforting smile. When my teams were winning big games it was also nice to look and see them feeling the same excitement as I did.

All that aside, just having them there didnít change the way I played. Having other people at my games did.

When I was able to convince friends of mine they should come to my games that certainly gave me a boost. I wanted to play well so that theyíd come back and continue supporting my team.

The ones who really motivated me to play my best though were when family members other than my parents came.

My grandfather, we called him Opa (thatís Dutch for grandpa) was confined to a wheelchair because he lost both his legs to hardening of the arteries. This Dutch immigrant knew little about hockey, but would come to as many of my games as he could just to see me play.

I can remember finishing up warm-ups and seeing him in the stands. I of course would wave (the one time I didnít I sure heard about it) and then there would be a feeling from within that I was going to play better.

I knew it wasnít easy for my Opa or my other grandparents to come to games and it wasnít something theyíd be able to do a lot so I wanted to do my best and give them something to talk to their friends about.

No student athlete wants their grandparent to go back to their friends and tell them how they stunk the gym up the last time they went to see them play.

Then there are times when aunts, uncles and cousins come to games. It was rare that these members of my extended family would come to my games so like when my grandparents showed up, I wanted to put on a show and give them something to remember.

All student athletes need support from home. They expect all the attention of their parents, but the extra attention from other family members truly means something to them whether the student athlete or family member realizes it or not.

Itís not that hard to take some time out of a busy week and enjoy something like a niece, nephew or grandchild competing. It certainly beats any reality show on TV these days, except maybe Runís House on MTV.

I myself am learning how fun it is to watch my nephew at his hockey practices. I go to his baseball games and his sisterís softball games as well when I have the chance.

Turn the TV off, get outside and spend time with family at a sporting event where the athletes arenít making millions and complaining because they want more.

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Forest Lake Times
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