(Photo via Dee Krauss-Thompson)

Four months ago, the words “tackle football” made me cringe. The thought of my sweet, fragile, 7-year-old out on that big, wide field being knocked around like a rag doll was terrifying. Baseball was our sport of choice, and I wanted to keep it that way.

Plus, not to brag but, my kid ... he’s exceptional. It’s not because he’s a natural, although I would like to say that. It’s not because he’s the best on the team, although I would like to say he is. It’s because he is driven. When my son does something, he refuses to give anything less than 100 percent. When it comes to baseball, he sells out. He eats, sleeps and breathes baseball. He knows the rules. He follows the plays. He practices in his free time. He isn’t exceptional because he has talent, he is exceptional because he has drive.

RELATED CONTENT: Westfield, Indiana parent: Rookie Tackle challenged my son, but also made him better

A year ago, my husband Carlos separated from the U.S. Air Force after being enlisted for 10 years. For the first time, our family was displaced as we entered into the civilian world. It was strange and scary. We were outcasts. My kids had no idea what it meant to be civilians. The Air Force raised them. We had been nomads, moving every two years, doing our duty and obeying the call of Uncle Sam. The only thing we knew was “service before self,” which is a value that doesn’t translate to civilian life.

As a family, we were struggling to find our community and our place. Carlos was searching for purpose while the rest of us were searching for normalcy. One day, when Carlos came home, he said he was going to coach tackle football. I legitimately couldn’t wrap my head around it. Honestly, I was enraged. We had agreed baseball was our sport. I did NOT want my baby boy out on that field! But there was something that I couldn’t say no to; a sparkle I could see in his eyes. I needed to let them do this. Plus, from what I heard, they were trying out a new program this year, Rookie Tackle, and it appeared to be safer. Still, I was apprehensive.

RELATED CONTENT: Austin, Texas Rookie Tackle earns praise, teams eye Pop Warner Super Bowl exhibition

Now, it may be the control freak in me but, I’m not one to sit idly by and watch on the sidelines. I knew that if my boys were doing this, I had to do it, too. I wiped my tears, put on my big girl pants and signed up for Team Mom. Anyone who has ever had a kid play in Pop Warner football knows that Team Mom is not for the faint of heart. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. About halfway through boot camp, I was asking myself, “Do we get paid for this!?” It was grueling, but it was undeniably worth it.

Fortunately, this season our league was one of 10 in the U.S. that were a part of the USA Football Rookie Tackle program. This program could change the way the game of football is played, using modified rules for younger players to not only make the game safer, in my opinion, but more efficient and more fun; playing half-field with 8-on-8 as opposed to the standard 100-yard field with 11-on-11. Each boy was equipped with a GPS tracker that took data during some of their practices, scrimmages and games. This data informed analysts of the distance ran per child, the number of falls, the number of impacts, and the speed at which each player runs. Moving forward, this data will be used to help formalize Rookie Tackle nationwide. It may change the game of football forever, and my family was a part of that.

RELATED CONTENT: USA Football Rookie Tackle program earning rave reviews in Frisco, Texas

This season, I watched my boys grow. My husband went from being a lost veteran to a veteran with a purpose. My son went from being a small, fragile little boy into being a little man. To watch your son push himself the way football pushes him, there is nothing like it in the world. I watched my son learn how to live up to his full potential. That lesson is going to stay with him far into adulthood. To say it was inspiring would be an understatement. Before playing football, my son was driven. Now, he’s a force to be reckoned with. He is faster, stronger, smarter, and more confident than he ever was. Football gave him a sense of camaraderie that I’ve never seen in him before, a sense of belonging. He changed for the better. We all did. 

This season, my family found a community and a home. The relationships we have built are going to last a lifetime. The quality of people who are involved in this sport is refreshing. Everyone is dedicated to helping these boys be the very best they can be. More than that, helping all of us be the very best we can be! 
 

I stand in awe of what football has given us, but most of all, what this Rookie Tackle program has given us. As I was sitting back and analyzing my experience this season, I discovered that I’m not passionate about Tiny Mites football. I’m passionate about Rookie Tackle! Without this program, we wouldn’t be where we are today; part of something greater than ourselves.

Emily Jimenez was the team mom for Hill Country Pop Warner in Austin, Texas, which was one of 10 programs nationwide that took part in USA Football’s Rookie Tackle program.