God had just unveiled my new mission and I had no idea what was coming. I decided to learn football and teach others like me who are trying to keep track of the ball during the games. I studied more football than I did any topic throughout my education. I quickly discovered the amazing level of participation which is growing by 30,000 every year in high school alone! And, as I dug deeper, I realized how many life lessons the boys gain by belonging to a team. Also, how significant it is in their personal growth. Having a new appreciation for the benefits of playing football, knowing the importance of a mom’s validation of her son during his adolescence, and knowing how many of them there are, my goal became helping gridiron moms share the most important thing in their sons’ lives – football! A vision far exceeding my original idea of a simple set of flash cards began to evolve. Besides coaching moms through the game, my new book and website provide the insight and support moms need to relish the blessings (as obscure as they may be) and opportunities exclusive to those of us raising players.

Football is not simple and there is a lot to it. I could have made 200 simple cards and still be lacking. I am not known for keeping things simple. So leveling the text into three color-coded degrees of difficulty made the project more interesting to me, while maintaining simplicity for learners. Of course, I couldn’t stop there. I wanted pockets (got‘em) to hold cheat-sheets (down the road – stay tuned!) and spiral binding with a wrap-around cover. By the time I had my first prototype (yes, prototype, not just a draft), it had so many bells and whistles it would have required outsourcing and outsourcing from the outsourcers! So I pared it down and honestly, I think it is just about perfect, minus the voice recorder implanted in the cover so you can record the game play by play along with the specialized calculator-type stat processor.  I decided to give those up! (For now - see what I mean?!) 

As I learned about the facts, history, and participation in football, I tweaked the format. I began to see how this project could become a meaningful service. A ministry, if you will, that went beyond teaching the rules with a gadget-loaded tutorial. Let me just say, there were many times I thought about shelving this project. Every week for months, I thought I would be finished. There was so much to learn and I would not settle for haphazard instruction for my “students”. My own boys did not understand why I was spending so much time at the computer.  The growing vision God was presenting seemed overwhelming compared to my original little flash cards concept. However, He is a persistent, patient, and expectant God. Every time I came close to putting my authorship on hold to get a real job (one the boys could see), He drove me on. I have always prayed a lot, but didn’t read the Bible consistently. I began kneeling at my bedside to “present my prayers and petitions, with thanksgiving…” and to “turn my burdens over” to God, and then read my Bible every night. And EVERY NIGHT I opened my Bible randomly, so it seemed, to scripture that turned out to be amazingly pertinent. When I doubted, He convinced. When I cowered, He pushed. How could I ignore such personal involvement?! I couldn’t, even though many people wondered what the heck I was doing! The purpose of the book and its significance became my focus more than the gadgetry. I believe, without a doubt, I have finally found that elusive purpose God intended for me! Who would have guessed?! Jeremiah 29:11 reads “For You know the plans You have for me, Lord. Plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future.”  This is so for all of us, I am not any more special than anyone else!

So how can a football book, albeit with a couple of Bible verses here and there, make a positive impact on society? Seems lofty, doesn’t it? This is the deal. Number one: There is a need for a book of this format. Nearly 2 million boys and men play football, affecting at the very least, the same number of moms, plus grandmas, step-moms, girlfriends’ moms, and moms who just like to watch the games on TV with or without sons. Additionally, with the growing number of football clinics for women and moms, many of which sell out very quickly, it is safe to assume moms are tired of feeling ignorant regarding football. I know I was, and I became frustrated with the lack of resources to simply and clearly answer the questions I was too embarrassed to ask.

Number two: Teams, nonprofit organizations, or companies can use the book in a variety of ways to raise money for a cause or to cover expenses. Selling the book can also lead into team or coach-conducted clinics for moms, another opportunity to raise funds and allegiance! Regarding football alone, the rising level of participation and the cost of increasingly sophisticated equipment (that we moms want in the worst way), training, travel, and more, sometimes stretch school budgets to the point of springing back and knocking out the program. Fundraisers have become necessary for sustaining many programs. Then we have the PBC Moms in the stands enjoying a new kind of unity and friendship.

Number three: Moms will see the benefits gained by playing football on a team far outweigh the risks. When moms understand the rules of the sport, the unique camaraderie within the team, and the advantages gained from participating, they are likely to become a team’s biggest supporters. I speak from experience. After all of my research, I can hardly wait for the season to begin so fellow football moms can implement our ideas (found on the “Mom’s Squad” page) for nourishing and encouraging the troops. Additionally, moms will realize the importance of the conditioning program and practices in keeping their sons safe, and will do their part to get the boys well-prepared. (Note: Football is not nearly as dangerous as its reputation would imply. Rule changes regarding the use of the head/helmet as a weapon were implemented in 1976, and successfully, dramatically reduced the associated danger.)

Number four: Our busy schedules make it hard for us to get to know each other, let alone form solid friendships. When this is sold as a fundraiser, many moms will have the same book. This brings them together. It stimulates conversation and generates camaraderie. Moms find other moms with whom they can enjoy a good laugh, lean on when having problems, and share a good “venting” when an influx of testosterone makes it necessary. They end up helping each other and their team with their newfound bond! 

Most importantly: Boys the ages of 11 and up seek, without knowing it, validation from their mothers or significant female role models, after modeling their dads or the other male figures in their lives during the ages from 6 to 11. At the time we are the most important person in their lives, we need to be able to share the thing most important to them, football. I designed The Pocketbook Coach for Mom tutorial as a fun, informative conversation tool, with which sons can challenge their moms to become masters of the game, draw out plays, and find humor in life. In the special ‘Moms Section”, insight and suggestions for relating with boys from coaches and veteran moms enhance the quality of the support moms can provide their sons. And we all know a young man’s success correlates with his family relationships. Stronger relationships lead to men of stronger character. Men of stronger character lead to a stronger society. You can see why this has consumed my life! Football is not just football!

I am excited about the future. Every concept in development revolves around my goal to bridge gaps between mothers and sons, to empower and unite football moms, and ultimately to strengthen relationships within families and social circles – even if just a wee little bit! What a blessing!