Tracey Luebbers
The Survival Guide for Sports Moms is a book written for moms from a mom who raised two boys who are very much involved in sports. This book will give you ideas and direction in the youth sports area that is unlike any other book. From t-ball to tuition means exactly that. No matter what age your child is you will find fun tips along with just the right amount of knowledge you will need to understand the game. If its baseball, soccer, football or basketball that your are involved in you will be much more prepared for what is about to be expected of you and your child. This guide will give you direction from what equipment to buy to how to start looking for scholarships for your college bound athlete. The Survival Guide for Sports Moms is a unique view of sports today written from the perspective of a mom that has managed to keep it fun and create a great experience for her family.
Tracey and her husband Marty met in high school when they were 16 years old. She was the Captain of the cheerleading squad and he was a corner back for the football team. Through out their childhood each of them had participated in many sports. They were married in 1983 one year after high school graduation. Two years later Dusty was born. Marty went on to Florida State University and graduated with an engineering degree. Soon after he graduated they moved to LaGrange Georgia. Dusty showed an interest in baseball among other sports at a very young age. Eric was born 3 ½ years later and had the same interest in sports as big brother had. Each of the boys grew up to play many sports. Marty was the usually the coach and Tracey the team mom. As the two boys grew older each chose the one sport they loved the most. For Dusty it was baseball and for Eric it was soccer. Sometimes with two games going on at the same time and in different locations Tracey learned how to manage it all and still keep it fun. They live in LaGrange Georgia with their two sons. Dusty attends LaGrange College and plays baseball at the college. Eric attends Troup High School and plays soccer there and on a club traveling team. They are still loving it and going strong!
Going to Camp
Camps are a great way for your child to learn many lessons. Independence, techniques of the game, self reliance, organization and discipline. Exposure to is also one of the reasons you might be considering a camp if your child is high school age. In any case, camps are a fun and rewarding experience if you know what to expect and what to take along. The camp you are going to should provide a list of necessary items but I have always sent these extra things along and they really made the boys camp experience a lot nicer. I hope these tips will help you be better prepared for camp and make your child and you more comfortable.
- Save the zippered plastic bag that comforters come in. These make excellent towel, blanket and linen carriers for camp.
- Another good thing to send is a mattress cover. Most camps are held at a school or college and the campers stay in dorm rooms that have been used recently.
- You might want to buy a solid air freshener. Dorm rooms can be musty smelling.
- Be sure to put their name on everything! Even if they are going with close friends items get mixed up and the kids can end up with clothes, etc., that does not belong to them.
- Small container of laundry detergent just in case they run short of clean clothes.
- Plastic bags or laundry bag for dirty and or wet clothes.
- Money. Just enough for their turn buying the evening snack, pizza! Most of the time the local pizza delivery place will be ready for the camps to begin and are very happy to oblige.
- Sports drinks, bottled water and snacks. After registration we always went to a local grocery store and pick up some of their favorite drinks and snacks. This will cut down on too much junk food and you won’t have to send extra money for these.
- Don’t worry about an alarm clock. The coaches usually have their own way of waking up the campers. And some kids might have one on their cell phones if allowed by the camp.
- Expect to buy the camp ball or many other items at registration. They will usually give each camper a “free” t-shirt, but they will have other items smartly displayed.
- Swim trunks or suits, beach towel or extra towel for swimming, and a small container of rubbing alcohol to put in their ears after swimming. You could buy the brand name after swimming drops, but rubbing alcohol is the same and much cheaper.
- Sunscreen. I would be sure to have a dry run on how to apply. Ears and back of neck have been a problem for my campers in the past.
- Broken in cleats. Do not send new cleats or any other new footwear. Blisters are pretty much a sure thing if they are not broke in. If they need new ones, buy them at least 2 weeks in advance and let them wear them several times. Send an extra pair if they have one. Sometimes their favorite ones might get wet and not be dry by the next day.
- Band aids or new skin spray just in case you do not follow the previous rule.
- Over the counter medications such as anti acids or headache medicines. I would only do this if they are old enough to understand the proper dosage. Sometimes the heat or the cafeteria food can be hard on the head and stomach.
- Decks of cards, magazines or any inexpensive games. Be careful sending game systems or DVD players. They could be damaged or stolen.
