P-Day

So now a history lesson. When I was a kid, we didn't have President's Day, we actually had two holidays (at least above the Mason-Dixon Line) - Lincoln's Birthday (2/12) and Washington's Birthday (2/22). Sometime in the 1980's, the two were consolidated to President's Day. Lincoln's Birthday was never a federal holiday, since you couldn't get the confederate states to consent. So Washington's B-Day kind of became P-Day, we rolled Mr. Lincoln in with it, and now you have your February holiday. Since I have the day off I am not complaining.

Speaking of complaining, let me keep on that subject. As my loyal readership knows (but any of you new to the world of SoulSlam does not), I coach a very talented group of young men (10U) on a travel baseball team. It is what you would consider a "town team" - similar to a town "all-star" team. Boys try out, make the cut, etc. So we start "optional" winter workouts and practices in January. Optional since we are affiliated with the PAL, and it is basketball season right now. Funny thing is, hoops season lasts 5 months, longer than every other season apparently. And we are not what you call a "basketball town". So we workout every other Friday night at an indoor facility - and get a good turnout (10 or 11 out of 12). Every Sunday we have an indoor practice in the gym we have. That turnout is usually 6-7 boys.

What's my point?

Although these are not mandatory sessions, they are critical. It gives the boys a base so when we start getting outside in two weeks (dress warm, because if the ground is dry, we are outside), they are ready to go. I stress commitment to the boys, but maybe I should be to the parents as well. When the first game rolls around at the end of February and their son is reduced to an inning at the back end of six, they will come to me and say 'how come Fauntleroy didn't play much today?' My response?

JANUARY!

Take heed parents.

P.S. (after this post) - there have been changes with the blog tool and now the spell check isn't working. Makes the changes in the tool and posts with the mispelt (sic) words. Nice.