I didn't know how to start this Post because I don't have any pics or recordings yet. This is funny! I've decided that I'd date these "Sports" posts to monitor Tayshaun's progress.
So four weeks ago, we went to see Keenan's bowling team. Well that same day, Tayshaun decided that he wanted to start too. We'd already registered him for basketball but it turned out the schedules didn't conflict each other so Tayshaun's now the youngest on the bowling team and let's just say it's a riot watching him!
Well whenever we've gone bowling, Tayshaun's always had the bumpers up and he's been able to score really well. But on the bowling team, he's learning to bowl without the bumpers. The first week, he probably averaged 20 pts. Poor kid! He was lucky when he didn't gutter. And when he didn't, you should have seen the excitement on his face. I wish I could have caught his expression on the camera. It was so seldom and spontaneous when he'd actually hit pins that all I could do was give him eye-contact, clap and shout to encourage him....not snap pictures.
Week2, he did about the same. He's using the lightest ball and apparently, that light of a ball tends to curve. Talk about a curve ball. Tayshaun's shots will go perfectly down the middle and then 3/4 of the way take a fierce curve to the left gutter. So his coaches have instructed him to start on the right side and aim for the furthest right arrow. The ball will look like it's going straight for the right side gutter and just about 1/2 there it will start to straighten up - and when he's really lucky, it will stay on the alley to hit a few of the far left pins.
My kid...will not take advice from his mom. BUT, he's very attentive to the coaches The guys, that is. When the female coaches advise him, he listens but he kinda has that 'yeah whatever' attitude when they're talking to him. Ewww! But at least he's listening.
Week3, he more than doubled his scores. During the week, we had him using a hand weight while imitating the bowling actions to help build up his strength so hopefully he can move to the next size ball or at least to get a little more strength. What's hilarious is that while he's bowling and after he's released the ball, he moves his body in the direction he wants the ball to go, he'll make actions to keep the ball from curving to the gutter, and when he hits the majority of the pins, it's as though he's made a strike or spare...he does a victory dance! Imagine how he'll be when he becomes practiced.
Just before Week3, Tayshaun was also getting ready for basketball that week. So in between, imitating bowling actions, he was dribbling the basketball. My poor floors! Then Saturday came and he FROZE!!!!! Yes FROZE. Poor guy! He's so NOT aggressive. He was so excited but when we got to the gym, he was so nervous.
Basketball and 5 year old (mostly) boys is just hilarious!!!! Running up and down the court, dribbling the ball (hopefully) at least ONE time before getting under the basket, and hopefully going to the right basket, then yes, one of those little buggers will actually make a hoop!
So we're watching two teams playing while waiting for Tayshaun's game to start. He's just quiet and doesn't take his eyes away from the ball. He's not saying a word. Tayshaun, is that you????? His coach gets there and he doesn't want to move from his chair. He doesn't want to join his team. He makes me walk him to his team. The coach practices with the team for a bit and Tayshaun starts to loosen up. He's practicing well and looks like the Tayshaun I know. Well when the whistle blew...where is Tayshaun???? He's everywhere, EXCEPT WHERE THE BALL WAS! So there we were yelling at him.... "Tayshaun, go to the ball to to the ball go to the ball!". And he's jumping and jumping and jumping, right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot...I know he sooooooo wanted to touch that ball but he was soooo petrified. He ran and ran up and down the court and just got more and more nervous. Well knowing the way that he reacts to my advice in bowling, I decided not to go over to give him advice but 15 minutes into it and I was going crazying...not seeing him go to the ball. In fact as the time went on, he made sure to stay as far away from the ball as possible. And finally when we started yelling to him, he actually put his hands over his ears! Put his hands over his ears!
This is a boy who all week has been narrating to me all the basketball moves he was going to put on the court when he got out there. This is the boy who I've seen make baskets time and time again. This is a boy who's twisting, turning, running....and then for real....HE CHOKES!
I know it was his first time out there. I know he's going to get those jitters out and he'll be great but I was expecting to see an aggressive basketball player immediately. I might have to stay away from the games for the next few weeks until he gets the jitters out 'cause it's sooooooo hard for me to sit there and be encouraging. I know myself though. I won't be able to stay away. I'll just bring some tape for my mouth next week. I hope Week 2 Basketball goes 10X better than Week 1.
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