It would be safe to say that most kids pick up a sport because of the influence of their father. I am not discounting the role of mothers in the sports development of the child, but in most cases, the father has a direct hand in helping the kid choose a sport to learn or focus his attention on.
I honestly would like to dictate upon my children what sport they’d take up, but then that would be counter productive.
What I do is that I introduce them to certain sports at a young age and these sports are obviously those that I also play.
Among the first sporting skills I have taught my son and daughter are the falling techniques in judo.
I started them when they are about 2 years old when they start to try to do things on the bed that appear to be similar to rolling or falling. There is of course a practical reason for such — it is for their protection once they take part in other sports.
I am still looking forward to the day that either of them would really take judo more seriously, but I can’t impose it upon them they have to also enjoy participating in sports as children.
Football has allowed me to bond with both kids. While my son is practicing or competing in tournaments, his sister and I watch at the sidelines allowing us to spend extra time with each other.
I know many fathers who have followed this route as I bump into them at the field during tournaments playing the role of driver, financier, morale booster, photographer, videographer, and personal assistant to their young athletes. I rarely see them complain (well maybe they are afraid their wives would hear them wail…hehehe).
My fellow football fathers are dedicated to the game. They wake up early to make sure their kids are at the games and practices on time. They prepare the uniforms and accompany the players during trips.
I’ve seen similar dads in basketball, tennis and golf. They’re everywhere (remember that old Converse commercial?) and the numbers are steadily growing.
Parents now are more open to allowing their kids to participate in organized sports and are also making sure that they get to spend time with the kids even by merely being spectators.
There are however those who are very lucky to be in the same team with their sons like my compadre Jack Huang, whose sons also play basketball. There was a tournament at the City Sports Club Cebu where Jack played alongside his sons.
The same thing goes for my good friend Chester Cokaliong, who played alongside his son Chase in a tournament also at the City Sports Club.
There are those who get to coach their children like volleyball’s Cecil Jotojot, who did not only have his wife Luisa in the Lapu-Lapu City team to coach, but also their daughter.
Football coaches and brothers Lito and Glen Ramos also have their sons on the teams that they coach just like Joselito ‘Babot’ Bono.
My neighbor and Cebu Sports Hall of Famer Shihan Oscar ‘Oka’ Obsioma also has three kids, who were into karatedo when they were younger under the tutelage of their father.
The same goes for Erlando Metante whose children are champion karatekas.
Many other fathers have helped mold their children to be champions and I salute them for being able to juggle two very difficult roles.
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MILESTONES: I’d like to congratulate sisters Lagdy and Neneng Villa on the opening of Galaxy Travel and Business Link Inc. last Tuesday afternoon near corner Aboitiz and Juana Osmeña Sts.
I’d like to greet the people of Toledo City a happy fiesta.
Congratulations to my niece and The Freeman sportswriter Marigold Lebumfacil, who was crowned Miss Toledo last weekend.
More power to you!