The Mum Behind the Sport

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Have you ever been freezing to the bone and clutching a hot coffee as you cheer on your child at weekend sport? Or perhaps you’ve been sitting in the sweltering Brisbane sun at a sports carnival, applying sunscreen to the team and ensuring everyone’s staying hydrated? When you’re back at home washing the dirty and sweaty sports uniforms that have been unceremoniously dumped on the laundry floor, you could be forgiven for wondering: is kids’ sport worth all the effort?

The short and loud answer is YES! But the long answer can be found in these beautiful Milo YouTube clips that have been popping up on Facebook.

The children featured in the videos open their hearts and share what they learn from sports, but most importantly, what they learn from their Mum – their ultimate coach and biggest fan. I urge you to watch them and consider how valuable your contribution is in the life of your little team player. Once you’ve watched it, I know that you will want to share it with other mums to cheer them on!

Sport is a great teacher, mum is a great coach

Watching these Milo clips made me realise that mums are the unsung heroes of children’s sport: they are the ones giving a nervous child a pep talk before they go in to bat, they are the ones that remembered to bring the oranges for half time, and they are the ones that are keeping the scorecard. I know for me it reinforced and validated the time that I invest in the future of my children through the sports that they play. I also know with young kids, 3, 5 and 7, that my days of a sporting mum have only just begun and reflecting on this post has certainly given me the insight to realise the gift I will be giving my children. Relish this time mums because they won’t be young forever!

I asked some mums to share with me the investment that they make, according to the sports that their child plays. Can you relate?

The Soccer Mum

• Takes on the roles of team coach, trainer, score keeper or manager
• Remembers to pack the shin pads, spikes and a pair of shoes to wear afterwards
• Gets up at 3am to watch the Soccer World Cup with her little soccer fan
• Brings the orange quarters and the treats to training and games
• Has sat through “Bend it like Beckham” so many times she finds herself quoting it

Editor: My 5 and 7 year old play soccer and I love to watch them develop their team working skills. Cheering their peers on and encouraging each other when things don’t go to plan. How can this be taught in the same way anywhere else?

The Cricket Mum

• Commits a laaarrrggge chunk of her weekend to watching cricket
• Buys shares in Napisan to keep those whites, white
• Ensures her child is hydrated; she always remembers the hat and water bottle
• Reads magazines to research cricket superstars like Shane Warne and Michael Clarke
• Fosters her child’s love of the sport with games of backyard or beach cricket

The Footy Mum

• Washes the smelly jerseys and socks, sometimes with a peg on her nose
• Cheers herself hoarse at the games
• Hosts the football team’s break up party
• Makes the best recovery Milo drinks ever, with plenty of crunchy chocolate bits on top
• Let’s her footy fan stay up late on State of Origin night! Queenslander!

The Tennis Mum

• Drives her kids to tennis comps in parts of town she didn’t know existed
• Spends her hard earned money on the best racquets for her little tennis star
• Celebrates a win with a spontaneous Milo
• Commiserates a loss with a spontaneous Milo
• Juggles her work commitments and rosters to be there for training and matches

The Netball Mum

• Reassures her child that win, lose or draw, they will always be a champion to mum
• Tapes all the Australian Netball Diamonds’ games on television
• Can’t help but to bust out a few moves on the netball court herself… for coaching purposes
• Has to explain to her partner the meaning of the letters on the netball bibs
• Can iron pleats into a netball skirt like no one else can

The Swimming Mum

• Has the hot Milo ready after early morning training
• Is her kids’ biggest supporter, in and out of the pool
• Has learned to love the smell of chlorine
• Dreams of watching her child swim in the Olympics
• Understands that swimming for fun and fitness is just as important as winning races

Editor Ngaire: All 3 of my children swim and I am finding that the development of their resilience and inner strength is the unsung gift that this sport provides.

What sports do your children play? How do you help out? Share your stories!