As the years have passed since, we have done a variety of things to celebrate “my” day.  Once I remember telling the kids that they could do the one thing I had had enough of, grocery shop.  I am sure that most moms have heard this a few times:  ” There is nothing to eat in here”.  Most of the times I have heard it, it was when I had just come home from spending a few hundred dollars on groceries.  After I told the kids that THEY were to shop for the week, and they were not allowed to complain about the food in the house for the week, I think they learned a little bit about how frustrating it is to always have the right food and the right amount for all 4 of them.

This year, I hope that all of you moms out there take a moment to look back and give yourself a little pat on the back, and know that the sacrifices you are making especially when it comes to your kids sports, it will all pay off in the end, and it will be worth it.  Because, life goes by so quickly and soon memories of the games, rides, practices will be all that you have.

I came across this piece and I thought I would share it with you.  It was written by Kirk Mango who is also a blogger. Kirks blog includes that, “ Making a difference in the loss of perspective and “winning at all costs” attitudes so prevalent at many levels of sports.  It is a great blog that I am now subscribed to, Chicago Now.  It is devoted to athletes and their perspectives.  I invite you to write your own code, and see what being a Champion means to you.

CODE OF A TRUE CHAMPION

What are sun-protective fabrics?

The term “sun protective” describes fabrics specifically designed to protect the skin from UV radiation. While it makes sense that clothing protects skin from the sun, early research reveals that many summer fabrics offer too little protection.

The two most important features of sun-protective fabric are tight construction and color. Openings between the yarns allow UV radiation to pass through the fabric and reach the skin, so tightly woven or knit fabrics provide the best coverage.

Dark colors provide the highest protection levels. This sounds contradictory to the traditional advice that dictates wearing whites or light colors in warm weather. Heat and visible light are reflected from these light colored fabrics, but UV radiation passes through to the skin. Darker colors, such as navy, black, dark greens and reds, block more harmful UV rays.

Some of the earliest and most effective fabrics on the market were simply made of tightly woven, lightweight nylon or polyester. There were no special chemical treatments. Synthetic fibers are non-absorbent, so they could be worn while participating in water sports without getting heavy and dry quickly with little or no wrinkling.

More recently chemical sun blocks have been added to lightweight fabrics to offer a wider fabric range with good UV protection. These chemicals remain effective after many launderings.

I did see some team, that simply used white and black reversible jerseys, and used a Sharpie to put their numbers on.  They had different shorts, and what appeared to be a headband used in cold weather, not in gyms, on their heads.  As you may imagine, they were not the best team out there.  What does that say about the team who has the best uniforms? Were they the best team there?  I always think back to the movie, The Bad News Bears.  They were sponsored by a Bail Bondsman, and everyone made fun of the uniforms.  But who played with more heart that the Bears?  No one, they played because they loved the game and just really wanted to be a part of it.

My son’s basketball team whet to national showcase basketball tournaments and were laughed at ( literally) by other teams and not taken seriously in part because they did not have the fancy newest sponsored jerseys, or even matching shorts for that matter.  The did not use a Sharpie, but masking tape to put numbers on the backs of some of the jerseys, and to mend a ripped armhole on another.  The teams and players that laughed at my sons team did not however have the last laugh.  The boys on his team had more heart desire, and drive than than some of the ones who laughed.   Perhaps walking out on the court or field in THE best most expensive uniform does make you feel like you are the best, but in the end, the hard work dedication and respect for the game is what will win games.

Chicks Play Sports does offer a wide selection of affordable uniforms, that event teams on a budget can get for their teams.  We have functional fabric, styles, and cuts that can make your team feel the part when they walk out on the court!

It is one thing to see the local flare in uniforms, but it is quite another to what is happening is basketball fashion in other parts of the country.  I am wondering if I will see more pink, different shapes, or different cut in the backs of the uniforms.   With all the talk ( which I love) about Girl Power, Girls having choices, are we headed to all pink, uniforms?

They are asking women boxers to wear skirts in the Olympics, are we headed that direction in womens basketball uniforms as well? When I watched the Women’s Final Four, I noticed that Baylor, especially had a unique color pallet of grey and green.  I wonder how today’s young women are going to want to show their strength and ability out on the court.  Do they have options that will enhance their play with a new high tech fabric, but still show off their fabulous athletic bodies?  Will will see and I will be sure to report back as to what I have seen.

Chicks Play Sports does offer a wide range of basketball uniforms, that are stylish, colorful, women’s cut, and with high tech fabric, check us out!

I have always believed that volunteering is something that we should all part take in. I enjoy helping out, and it makes me feel part of something when I help out.  It is not always fun, but you can make it fun.  Long hours behind a concession stand, long hot nights standing, sore feet, asking too many people to buy stuff, is it all worth it?  Who knows, but at the time, it feels like the right thing to do, and it helps connect me more with my kids friends, teammates, coaches, and to know them more as the person they are becoming.   For years my son’s basketball team worked concession stands at an NFL stadium and a local arena.  It was some of the BEST team building ever done.  All the boys worked, some of the parents, and a coach.  We could run that stand like pros, and when it got busy, we all knew what our jobs were, and we did them well.  I found it to be an added bonus.  The team learned to work under pressure, to work together, and to see what “real ” life jobs were like.

We had to follow someone else’s rules, and standards, and boy did we bond.  It is hard to have those sorts of experiences while the kids are in practice because there is not time for that.  This crazy world of fundraising ended up not only being a way to earn money for the team, but a way to see how they work under pressure and together as a unit.  For those of you who haven’t tried it, try it once, and see how much fun you can have. It makes your kids feel good to know that you care and are taking the time to support what they do.

Chicks Play Sports offers all the athletic wear you may need to work your long nights at the nacho bar, check us out!

Well said.  Recently, a friend of mine was telling me about her daughter’s new soccer team.  She began the story with how grateful they are to be part of the ” elite” team as it is considered to be a top team in their state.  She went on to say it was an honor, and  truly feels that it will be beneficial  to her daughter in getting a scholarship for college.  It sounded like a great opportunity for her.  There is something that is about this new team that I am hearing a lot, is the fact that it is a team with  “elite” players from all over the state, and not local kids who have grown up playing together.

This soccer player has played in a couple tournaments, and still doesn’t know the names of the girls on her team!  They were put on the team and not really introduced to one another, or told what schools they are from, what grade they are in, etc..  What does that say about the traditional  “team” that we grew up with?  Teams once were kids that had gone to school together, lived in the same neighborhoods, knew each others family, parents were friends, certainly knew each others names, probably even their pets names.  In this day and age of playing to be the best, where has the concept of team gone?  It is a different way of viewing teams, and sportsmanship.

One of the things that my team always did was break bread together.  This gives the athletes a chance to sit and talk, get to know each other, and bond.   That is part of being teammates that this ” elite” team is forgetting.  Sure you can have all the great athletes on one team, but if there isn’t that bond, then how well can they really do when it is a bunch of players on a team, not a team with a bunch of players.

Chicks Play Sports has all your athletes sportswear needs, whether they play on an elite team, or in the neighborhood in the backyard, we have all the uniforms, practice gear, and accessories you will need!

I suppose that some people would appreciate the status that comes with being able to say they are on a higher team, but a true athlete wants to play.  This is a time when communication between parents, athletes, and coaches on what is best for the athlete and the team is vital.  It is important to get the reasons to be moved up, how will it impact your child, what is really in their best interest.

The debate can be, higher level of practice with limited play time is better than a lower level of practice with more play time.  Once on the higher level team, the athlete will want to push herself and work harder, so that she will get more  play time. Learning from the older more experienced players can be a good thing as well.

Chicks Play Sports is able to outfit your athletes at whatever level of play they are at.  We offer a wide variety of practice wear, uniforms, and CPS wear so the world will know, that Chicks Play Sports!

Although colored hard boiled eggs are probably the first Easter food to come to mind, other foods factor into the traditional Easter meals around the world.

Hot Cross Buns are an Easter favorite in many areas. The tradition allegedly is derived from ancient Anglo-Saxons who baked small wheat cakes in honor of the springtime goddess, Eostre. After converting to Christianity, the church substituted the cakes with sweetbreads blessed by the church.

Countries around the world serve sweet cakes in the same vein, such as Czech babobka and Polish baba. The Greeks and Portugese serve round, flat loaves marked with a cross and decorated with Easter eggs. Syrian and Jordanian Christians have honey  pastries.

Pretzels were first shaped to indicate the torso of a person with arms folded, praying.

The  roast lamb dinner that many eat on Easter Sunday goes back earlier than Easter to the first Passover of the Jewish people. The sacrificial lamb was roasted and eaten, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs (see Passover Seder) in hopes that the angel of God would pass over their homes and bring no harm. As Hebrews converted to Christianity, they naturally brought along their traditions with them. The Christians often refer to Jesus as The Lamb of God. Thus, the traditions merged.

In the United States,  ham is a traditional Easter food. In the early days, meat was slaughtered in the fall. There was no refrigeration, and the fresh pork that wasn’t consumed during the winter months before Lent was cured for spring. The curing process took a long time, and the first hams were ready around the time Easter rolled around. Thus, ham was a natural choice for the celebratory Easter dinner.

Remember that after your wonderful holiday meal, to grab your Chicks Play Sports wear and take a nice long hike or walk with your family or friends, show off your new Chicks Play Sports apparel!

According to Colorcombos.com, for 2012, the winner from among so many potential candidates is juicy Tangerine Tango. However, this vivacious orange is actually only one of twelve dominant themes for women’s fashions for spring and summer of 2012.

After doing some research on color trends in athletic wear for 2012, we found that bright colors are where the trends are taking us.  Inevitably, spring makes us think of new life, new hope and renewed energy. With the lethargy and dullness of winter slipping away, women want to look re-energized and vibrant. According to Fashion Snoops Trend Report, Tangerine Tango is joined by a warm Poppy red, sensual Geranium rosy-red, cheery Canary yellow and spring Grass yellow-green. Both Tiffany blue and Sodalite marine blue are refreshing and cool choices. Bellflower, a deep ornamental purple; Hyacinth, a softer version; and Sweet Lilac, a light, romantic pink-lavender will be ideal companions from spring through the lovely long days and evenings of summer. Even the intriguing Inky dark blue reflects contemporary classic style.

Check out our bright new colors for your  teams uniform needs, we have the latest color and trends to help make your team look great, but still have the feel and function of true athletes.