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Football Dad

Balancing Football Season and Fatherhood

By Jim Nagle

During the playoffs, however, even the most devoted fathers among us are bound to give in to the cravings associated with a Sunday battle over a spot at the "big dance" the first week of February. First, let me say to you that there is a way to be there for the action and be there for your toddler.

First of all, consider that football, of all professional sports, is the most dad friendly. There is only about 30 to 40 minutes of actual "action" during a football game. The rest of the time is commercials and time-outs and regrouping for the next play. So this is what I did during the first weekend of the playoffs: First, I filled the living room with toys and coloring books. I sat down with her and we played. On came the TV and the game. We colored, we chatted, we put her little farm animals in a row, the way she likes to. We did all the things we love to do together, but for about 15 seconds of every minute, my eyes were on the game.

It was a win-win situation, not counting the team I was rooting for. I maximized the in-between-plays time and spent it with my daughter. She didn't care much for the game, but I'm working on that. Green construction paper makes for a great football field, and footballs are shapes too, you know.

Want to see more?

• Don't Penalize Your Waistline Super Bowl Sunday
• How Baseball Can Help You Become a Better Dad
• Going the Full Nine
• Sharing Your Athletic Interests With Your Kids
• Family Energy Magazine
• Talk about it!