Here's Guest Dad Joe Burris with musings about girls, sports, and role models:

Continue reading "Sports role models for girls" »

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Sports
        

Kim Clijsters just won a victory for moms everywhere -- with her win in the US Open, she's unbelievably the first mother to win a Grand Slam championship since Evonne Goolagong's Wimbledon victory in 1980.

Yes, Virginia, moms can come back to the workplace and succeed.

"The fairy tale goes on - some how, I'm in the US Open final on Sunday beating both Venus and Serena along the way... am i dreaming???" the Belgian tennis star wrote on her Twitter page -- where the picture is not of Clijsters playing tennis, but of her holding her toddler daughter.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Sports
        

My colleagues Jill Rosen (of Unleashed fame) and Joe Burris (of Charm City Moms fame) are working on a story about folks who are preparing in some interesting way for football season to start up again in Baltimore.

We were sure there's probably a young fan -- or two -- out there who's going to the game for the first time, or who has dyed his hair purple in honor of the Ravens, or done something else to express his or her great excitement.

If so, Jill and Joe would love to hear about it and possibly interview this fan and his proud parents. You can e-mail them at jill.rosen@baltsun.com or joseph.burris@baltsun.com.

Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Karl Merton Ferron

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Sports
        

I'm struck by two stories on our new parenting page right now (even though it was I who put them there). One talks about schools asking parents to pony up more money so their kids can participate in sports. The other has families who are able shipping kids to Grandma's instead of paying for camp.

Meanwhile, we're trying to sort through what lessons, sports, etc., the kids should take part in next year. They're interested in new things -- soccer, piano, drama -- as well as the old things (gymnastics, dance, swimming....).

Where do you draw the line?

David Haase stands at the soccer field where his 11-year-old daughter Morgan plays in Knoxville, Tenn. Morgan works the ball in the background. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Sports
        

I understand that our partner, WJZ-TV, is running a story about Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora and his quintuplets tonight. Mora and his wife, Gisel, conceived the children after she had fertility treatments. They're now in second grade. The Moras also have an older daughter.

The WJZ piece will look at the busy routine this family has to keep up with Jada, Genesis, Rebecca, Christian and Matthew. Their older sister Tatiana apparently helps the quints with their homework. 

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Sports
        

Michael, Michael, Michael. Instead of celebrating you as our hometown hero (as you might remember our family did after his Olympic triumph), I am hiding the newspaper because of you.

I quietly ask my husband what he thinks of your trangression with a bong. (Now the authorities are considering criminal charges.) I don't want my 7-year-old to hear because a) I don't want to explain what a bong is, yet, and b) I don't want to have to explain why someone who has the discipline to win eight gold medals would make such a mistake. Because I can't, really.

Though it's more of an issue because you're a local icon, other moms are talking about this, too. Here's the take from 518Moms in New York.

(Associated Press photo)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Sports
        

Our Guest Dad today is David Nitkin, a political editor here at the Sun.

He's writing about how to view youth sports when your main goal is not necessarily to build a world-class athlete. Here's his post:

Continue reading "Father's Day Friday: Sports and teamwork" »

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday, Sports
        

Today's tips come from the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, who want to see your kids' feet and ankles stay free of injury during the fall sports season. The organization sent along tips from Kansas City foot and ankle surgeon James Good, who says kids who play football, soccer, and basketball are most likely to suffer sprains and broken bones.

Here are his tips: 

"Have old sprains checked by a doctor before the season starts. A medical check-up can reveal whether your child's previously injured ankle might be vulnerable to sprains, and could possibly benefit from a supportive ankle brace during competition.

"Buy the right shoe for the sport. Different sports require different shoe gear. Players shouldn't mix baseball cleats with football shoes.

"Children should start the season with new shoes. Old shoes can wear down like a car tire and become uneven on the bottom, causing the ankle to tilt because the foot can't lie flat.

"Check playing fields for dips, divots and holes. Most sports-related ankle sprains are caused by jumping and running on uneven surfaces. That's why some surgeons recommend parents walk the field, especially when children compete in non-professional settings like public parks, for spots that could catch a player's foot and throw them to the ground. Alert coaching officials to any irregularities.

"Encourage stretching and warm-up exercises. Calf stretches and light jogging before competition helps warm up ligaments and blood vessels, reducing the risk for ankle injuries. 

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Today's Guest Dad is Mark Hyman, a Baltimore resident and BusinessWeek contributing editor for sports (and a former colleague here at the newspaper). Mark's book about impact of parents, coaches and other adults on youth sports, "Until It Hurts," will be published by Beacon Press next April. Meanwhile, he blogs about youth sports at Youth Sports Parents.

Now that fall sports are starting, it's time for Mark to sift through his family's equipment -- and to make some interesting discoveries in the process. Here's his post:

Continue reading "Father's Day Tuesday: Sports-gear creep" »

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Sports
        

This sounds like fun for young baseball fans who don't have school and are free around lunchtime tomorrow:

The ESPN Zone, 601 E. Pratt St. will host a question-and-answer session with left-handed pitcher Garrett Olson noon-1 p.m. (Doors open at 11:30 a.m., according to the web site.) He will sign autographs after the session. 

Visit espnzone.com/baltimore. Free.

(Photo by Nick Wass, Associated Press)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Sports
        

 Goucher professor and writer Madison Smartt Bell has a post on the Open Society Institute-Baltimore's Audacious Ideas blog today, suggesting that community martial-arts schools would help grow better kids in Baltimore's trouble spots. He mentions that children and teenagers from middle-class families have been flocking to martial-arts classes.

What do you think about his idea? Have your children benefitted from martial-arts training? How do you think it has helped them (or not), and which schools do you recommend?

 (Photo of Chinese athletes performing martial arts routines for visiting U.S Olympic athletes in Beijing last year by Stephen Shaver/Bloomberg News)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Sports
        

KQ Mom asked the other day about where to find a program to sign her 5-year-old up for spring soccer or lacrosse, and I've been meaning to answer her question.

It appears that the most efficient way to explore kids' sports in your area is to go through local recreation councils. This Baltimore County site has links to a number of local councils with various activities, and a phone number to call if you don't see yours listed. In Howard County, you can download a schedule of spring and summer activities (including youth sports) here. Anne Arundel County has links to its councils here, and you can download a Baltimore city program guide here (look for it along the right rail of the site). Links to Harford County's councils are here, and Carroll County's are here.

I'm sure there may be some groups not covered in these guides or through these links. If you're part of one that is still signing up spring players, please post information in the comments section below.

(Photo of helmets courtesy of the Los Angeles Times)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Sports