How to raise two girls to be sports junkies? Well, to be honest, the formula is still a work in progress. I won’t have definitive proof until they become college students. But that hasn’t stopped any athletic supplement makers, so I won’t let it stop me either. So, here is what I’ve learned so far:
No. 1: Make them turn the channel to ESPN so often that they have the satellite station number memorized.
All I have to say is, turn on ESPN and in an instant 206 has been punched on the remote. Sometimes, they’ll question and ask who’s playing. Often, I don’t know and will respond, “Does it matter? It’s (fill in the sport) season…” Soon enough whether it’s college or professional basketball, they are entranced and asking me who we’re rooting for. SportsCenter should be on every morning while they get dressed for school. Nothing gives a more well-rounded education than SportsCenter, and they’re half asleep–simply happy that the television is on. It’s really the only time I can get them to watch it for more than 10 minutes…
No. 2: Always have someone to root for!
I often don’t care who wins, I just want to watch a game. But the kids need a hero and a villain. Sometimes it’s easy: Texas, Virginia Tech, Spurs… Other times it’s Notre Dame versus Syracuse, like the other night, and I really don’t care. But if there’s no one to root for, in my daughters’ eyes, then there is no reason to watch! So, I’ll quickly use deductive reasoning. Well, we cheered Notre Dame on at the Alamodome (there was no reason to cheer for Washington State), so we’re Irish fans tonight girls! The next question is always, “What color are they?” I’ll give them the color, and they’re off…living and dying with every shot and foul.
I’m all for them watching cartoons, but when it comes to family time I really have a hard time watching Pokemon and Bakugan. (I see old age setting in because they give me a headache!) So, I say, let’s put on sports. I stay generic, and you never know what you might end up watching. My 9-year-old loves watching every sport she can with me. She even became a monster truck fan, and begged my dad to take her to a monster truck show–a first for both of them. How? Well, my dad loves watching Formula One, and sometimes monster trucks will come on after the race, and the two will sit and watch them. Next thing you know, she’s a Formula One/Monster Truck fan!
There’s nothing, I mean nothing, that the thrill of actually being at a game to make your kids die-hard sports fans better than attending a game! Unfortunately, you need to save for most of the year, or go into credit card debt to attend many games. But a little mascot, good ole American junk food, humiliating timeout games, the opportunity to see your face on the biggest tv in your life, and repetitive cheering of the same word–like “defense,” “offense” or maybe even a phrase, “Go Spurs Go”–will too have your child running for the nearest tv when you say, “The Spurs on tv.” So far, that also works when I say “Texas” or “Virginia Tech” in my house.
From an early age, I’ve known that my 9-year-old is in the bag. She has always asked detailed questions on the rules of the games and players–she devours the information. My 6-year-old, princess-loving dancer seemed most likely destined to become the most informed cheerleader on the sideline rather than the play-by-play announcer. But she has since started choosing Spurs over cartoons, and will beg relentlessly to see the end of a close game. So, as you never know! Or, as the infomercials say, “It’s worked for me, and it can work for you, too!
All of my attempts so far have not worked with the older ones….however, the toddler is coming along nicely. She sees football on and she yells “foobahh” (translation: football). She also loves to put her arms up and try to yell touchdown… It is so cute. I hope that at least one of them will become my football/basketball buddy. My husband kind of counts but he doesn’t root for my teams…we need a majority in the house.
I think The Husband must know about your plan! Our girls know how to cheer for all of our teams — it was one of the first things we taught them to say!
I think my younger daughter was BORN a sports fan though — one night before she was even a year old, we brought her out of her room when she was crying. She was crying, she was crying, wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t be comforted. I turned her on my lap and she was facing the TV and she saw the baseball game — and stopped crying IMMEDIATELY! 
We’ve always bought our daughter Dolphin’s & Florida State garb. She loves it. She especially loves when Daddy wears his jersey and she can wear hers. That’s probably another one to add to your “tips”. Matching, or at least team colored, garb. Face-painting is another thing my daughter gets a kick out of. We go to Braves games and Mommy & daughter get matching B’s. I don’t think it’s so much the “game” but the camaraderie that goes with the game. Kind of like tailgating. Good times…
I love all of these sports girl stories! Thanks for sharing. And yes, the daughters root for the mom’s teams. Dads, you’re lucky they are watching