Air Force intramurals 'almost as much fun as flying'

Playing sports is fun. Growing up in a small town, we played sports every day. Whatever was in season was what we played. Great fun, great memories, great friends.

We were able to play varsity sports without being great. No camps, no special training, just sports. I remember the fun and camaraderie more than the wins and losses.

Intramural sports in college was great f un. Again, several sports yearround with some of your soon to be lifelong friends.

Once I got on active duty in the Air Force, intramurals and competing against other bases was great fun. Almost as much fun as flying.

Coaching all five of my children in different sports was may be the most fun of all. Watching the kids gain i n confidence and skill was second only to the fun they were having. We had mother son-daughter games mid- season and as they got older we had father-son games. Today when I see some of my former players and I ask them what some of their best memories about playing as a youngster were, they usually refer to those parent kid games that became a midseason norm for us.

As a former liaison officer with the Air Force Academy and Air Force college scholarship programs, we evaluated high school students on grades, ACT scores, leadership and varsity sports. Sports demonstrate leadership but, more importantly, they help us learn to adapt and overcome. Two traits that are extremely important to the military and to help build leadership qualities i n our young people.

We remember the fun. But sports are so much more.