Spring has sprung, which means we’re packing away the soccer cleats and basketball jerseys and rolling out the welcome mat for track and field, dance competitions, and—brand new to my household—flag football. For the first time ever, all three of my kids are doing completely different sports, in completely different locations, and my sanity is already hanging by a very thin, very frayed thread.
You’ve heard me talk about my daughter—well, her busy season is in full swing and won’t end until July. One of my twins has taken up track and field and is very excited about the long jump (because what kid wouldn’t want to launch themselves into a sandpit?). And the other twin? He’s been begging to play football for years, but I’ve always shut it down because, well… I like his brain unconcussed. But then I discovered flag football and thought, “Sure, let’s give it a shot. What’s one more sport to add to my chauffeuring nightmare?”
What I didn’t know is that NFL Flag Football is actually a thing—so much so that it’s going to be an Olympic sport in 2028! Who knew?! (Apparently, everyone but me.) And, like any new sport, I had to learn the rules. Which is how I found out that, in flag football, you can rush the quarterback—but only if you inform the referee beforehand. I mean, doesn’t that defeat the purpose of a rush? I was so confused that I had my little track star googling the rules mid-game. Spoiler: I still don’t understand them. But if history repeats itself, I’ll be a self-proclaimed expert by the end of the season.
Oh, and now that my track-loving twin has read the rules and watched a game, he wants to play too. At this rate, I may have to start selling organs to afford all these extracurriculars. Does anyone need a slightly-used kidney?
