What do you tell the kids??

[Guest guest]

Ok, I know a lot of you have a great answer for this, and I'm hoping

to get one.

I just turned in my application to be a volunteer Youth Football

Coach in VA, and upon my acceptance, I will meet with the kids for

the first time, and the questions will fly at me.

I can handle any adult, it's the kids. THE KIDS! Oh the humanity...

If any of you have worked with kids in any capacity, I know you had

an opening statement about our size to explain the situation, and

gain the respect of the youth, so that you can move on, and get on

the field and play.

What has worked best for you? Talk amongst yourselves, just keep me

included.

=)

Thanks!

Respectfully,

Strasbaugh

BYW, my daughter Gretchen has had No more 'accidents' at school due

to the help of this group, and I thank you for that.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Congratulations on volunteering to be a football coach! I have been where

you are many times and found that once we move beyond the preliminary

question of why are you so short kids are very understanding and accepting.

The basic answer that I always give is " because my bones don't grow right " .

Of course the total is much more involved than that but that is really all

the kids are interested in usually. I work as a volunteer is a class of 3rd

graders and they are more excited to hear that I lived in Sand Diego when I

was in college and got to go to Sea World on a regular basis! ) So don't

be afraid. Kids can be intimidating but actually quite wonderful.

Danette Baker

Spokane, WA

scraps-of-joy@...

Scrapbook pages completed in 2004: 10

April 2004 pages: 2

March 2004 pages: 6

http://www.geocities.com/hotsprings/villa/9405

My disability is not a handicap

@ @\

@ @ @ ---\------

@ @ / /

I'll be standing in the gap for you

Just remember someone, somewhere

Is praying for you

Calling out your name

Praying for your strength

I'll be standing in the gap for you

~ Babbie Mason ~

-- What do you tell the kids??

Ok, I know a lot of you have a great answer for this, and I'm hoping

to get one.

I just turned in my application to be a volunteer Youth Football

Coach in VA, and upon my acceptance, I will meet with the kids for

the first time, and the questions will fly at me.

I can handle any adult, it's the kids. THE KIDS! Oh the humanity...

If any of you have worked with kids in any capacity, I know you had

an opening statement about our size to explain the situation, and

gain the respect of the youth, so that you can move on, and get on

the field and play.

What has worked best for you? Talk amongst yourselves, just keep me

included.

=)

Thanks!

Respectfully,

Strasbaugh

BYW, my daughter Gretchen has had No more 'accidents' at school due

to the help of this group, and I thank you for that.

===

[Guest guest]

In the summer of 2000 I worked as a girlscout camp counselor. It

was residential camp so we only got to go home on the weekends. We

had our girls 24-7 for 5 days each time. I didn't have to prove my

ability to the girls, I had to prove it to the other counselors who

thought that they would not listen to me because I was short. My

girls were the ages of 9 to 12 years old.

Honestly I didn't need to make a big speech or a speech at all and

I really don't remember getting that many questions either. If I

did I know I was open and honest about it. It is not a hard thing,

if they have questions then just answer them, they aren't looking

for a magical answer, they just want an answer.

What you could do is not only talk about your dwarfism but talk

about you as well. Say Hi, I am and I am going to be your

coach, I am # years old and I am married to a wonderful wife and

have a daughter. I am coaching because I love football... blah blah

blah then you can bring it up. Better than, Hi, I am a dwarf.

Just my opinion though,

-

P.S my girls were wonderful and I had EARNED their respect right off

the bat and there were never any issues about my shortness.

[Guest guest]

,

I've coached 3-5th grade YMCA basketball for many years. At the first team

meeting, I introduce myself, ask all the kids to introduce themselves, and then

open the floor for questions. I stress than they can ask me anything (usually a

parent is at the first meeting, so you don't have to worry about obscene or

profane questions).

They usually ask why I'm so short, and I give them a 3rd primer on genetics. A

good one is that dogs come in all sizes, from chihuahas to Great Danes. I'm

just a human chihuaha (at which point my assistant coach pointed out that I look

more like a Basset Hound).

Then they'll ask what I know about basketball (the implied meaning: what

qualifies you to be a coach, you're too short to play?) I tell them that I did

play when I was their age, and that unless they plan on growing as big as Shaq,

then none of them will ever be dunking the ball.

Then I tell them that it doesn't matter how tall you are, how high you can jump,

or how fast you can run, but how smart you are. I tell them the best players

are the ones who use their brains. (I usually make a joke about the brain being

the most important muscle in sports).

Then I tell them I may be short, but I have a BIG brain. I watch basketball, I

read about basketball, I study basketball. I know all about basketball, and if

they are willing, I'll teach them what I know. I tell them they might not

become the biggest, fastest, and strongest team in the league, but they will be

the smartest.

One other important thing. I stress we're all here to have FUN. Because if you

don't have fun playing a sport, it becomes a chore. And we're not here to do

chores. So I keep it light, tell a few jokes, and make sure all the kids are

involved.

By week two, they don't even remember I'm short.

I've had a great time and my kids have been great. If you act like you know

what you're doing, and make sure they are having fun, they'll totally respect

you.

-Bill

[Guest guest]

Good reply. I hope my son, , learns to explain dwarfism this well one

day. He plays baseball and has some questions, but when he performs, no one

asks anymore. He's very good at what he does....... (photo

attached------enjoy!!!!!!)

By the way, he is also the same one that sent the e-mail requesting donations

for the Relay for Life Cancer Walk --- so please keep your checks coming. I'm

proud to say we've received MANY checks from you all and I REALLY appreciate it.

He goes to the mailbox EVERYDAY looking for more checks and gets so excited

about it. He has about $450.00 so far. Thanks to many of YOU!!!!!!!

(See attached file: .jpg)

tslug@... on 05/20/2004 03:39:56 PM

dwarfism

cc: (bcc: Hookey/M & M)

Subject: Re: What do you tell the kids??

,

I've coached 3-5th grade YMCA basketball for many years. At the first team

meeting, I introduce myself, ask all the kids to introduce themselves, and then

open the floor for questions. I stress than they can ask me anything (usually a

parent is at the first meeting, so you don't have to worry about obscene or

profane questions).

They usually ask why I'm so short, and I give them a 3rd primer on genetics. A

good one is that dogs come in all sizes, from chihuahas to Great Danes. I'm

just a human chihuaha (at which point my assistant coach pointed out that I look

more like a Basset Hound).

Then they'll ask what I know about basketball (the implied meaning: what

qualifies you to be a coach, you're too short to play?) I tell them that I did

play when I was their age, and that unless they plan on growing as big as Shaq,

then none of them will ever be dunking the ball.

Then I tell them that it doesn't matter how tall you are, how high you can jump,

or how fast you can run, but how smart you are. I tell them the best players

are the ones who use their brains. (I usually make a joke about the brain being

the most important muscle in sports).

Then I tell them I may be short, but I have a BIG brain. I watch basketball, I

read about basketball, I study basketball. I know all about basketball, and if

they are willing, I'll teach them what I know. I tell them they might not

become the biggest, fastest, and strongest team in the league, but they will be

the smartest.

One other important thing. I stress we're all here to have FUN. Because if you

don't have fun playing a sport, it becomes a chore. And we're not here to do

chores. So I keep it light, tell a few jokes, and make sure all the kids are

involved.

By week two, they don't even remember I'm short.

I've had a great time and my kids have been great. If you act like you know

what you're doing, and make sure they are having fun, they'll totally respect

you.

-Bill