Home Team Sports Index

I love to watch the seasons change...baseball...football...basketball...hockey...

This file includes stuff that pertains to all team sports, as well as Cheerleading, Coaches, Fans, and Volleyball. Also see Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer, Non-Team Sports, Softball, and Winter Sports.

Team Sports Page Toppers

Quotes

TEAM

T ogether
E ach
A ccomplishes
M ore

Funny and Unusual Mascots

There are hundreds of these but here are a few I ran across during other research.

Sports Withdrawal

There are two days of the year in which there are no professional sports games (MLB, NBA, NHL, or NFL). They are the day before and the day after the Major League All-Star Game. You should plan ahead and record games to watch that day - or make do with reruns!

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Basketball

Page Toppers

Basketball Template

Enlarge the cutting diagram so it is the size you want (11" in diameter is good if you want it to pretty much fill the page). Trace the pattern on an old manila folder if you want something you can use again. Be sure to put the numbers and arrows on the patterns, as they will guide you in placement and photo orientation. When you assemble the photos on the page leave a little white space between each one.

Basketball Quotes and Humor

Songs about Basketball

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Cheerleading

Page Toppers

Quotes

No Deal

I trade sweat for strength.
I trade doubt for belief.
I trade cheerleading for nothing.

Cheerleaders ABC's

(Jakelle Cornell)

A - ambition
B - believe in your team!
C - cheers
D - dances/dedication
E - energy
F - fans/fun
G - games
H - half-time
I - I love cheering
J - jumps
K - kicks
L - losses
M - megaphones
N - no regrets
O - overtime
P - pom-poms
Q - never quit
R - rallies (pep)
S - smile
T - teamwork
U - uniform
V - victories
W - watching
X - x-hileration
Y - yelling
Z - zzzz's (after a good game)

Cheerleading Page Idea

Crop six photos using an octagon template. Use a larger octagon template to cut mats for the photos (use team colors or something that coordinates with them). Line up three photos in the center near the bottom of the page. Put two photos above them and one at the top--forming a pyramid shape. At the top put a title and some die-cuts or stickers. Write the words to various cheers here and there on the page.

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Volleyball

Page Toppers

Quotes

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Coaches, other Officials, and Fans

Quotes

What Really Matters

(author unknown)

One hundred years from now, it will not matter
What kind of car you drove or what kind of clothes you wore.
All that will matter is that you made a difference
In the life of a child!

(This could go in an album or thank you card for a coach.)

An Inspiration to Coaches

(author unknown)

There are little eyes upon you,
And they're watching night and day;
There are little ears that quickly
Take in every word you say
There are little hands all eager
To do anything you do;
And a little boy who's dreaming
Of the day he'll be like you.

You're the little fellow's idol;
You're the wisest of the wise,
In his little mind about you,
No suspicions ever rise;
He believes in you devoutly,
Holds that all you can say and do,
He will say and do, in your way
When he's a grown-up like you.

There's a wide-eyed little fellow
Who believes you're always right,
And his ears are always open,
And he watches day and night;
You are setting an example
Every day in all you do,
For the little boy who's waiting
To grow up to be like you.

Soccer is More Than Just Winning At All Costs

(Mike Berticelli, a poem for soccer coaches)

You donate your time for the good of our youth.
But you scream and you yell and are often uncouth.

The ref is just twelve and still learning the game,
But you call him a jerk and say he's not sane.

The parents are screaming and follow your lead,
As you spring up the sideline at uncontrollable speed.

You jump as you yell--"Pass, pass the ball!"
You turn red as you bellow--"Ref, make the call!"

"You're the left back now, get in your position.
If you don't, we might lose and ruin our tradition!"

Positions are needed so we look like a team,
'Cause they're miniature pros, or so it does seem.

The fullback is bored, he picks at his nose,
While the others run wild and kick with their toes.

You scream for a goal, no matter how it goes in,
The skill doesn't matter, just as long as we win!

The parents go crazy as the ball nears the goal,
Their advice and instructions will soon take their toll.

You see, "Junior" feels pressure, he's not having much fun,
We tell him to pass, when to shoot, and to run.

He came here to play and to use his own mind,
'Cause soccer's the most creative game that you'll find.

Imagination is needed on the part of each child,
Solving problems on the field is what makes them go wild.

A week of long practice, while just standing in line,
Waiting to shoot, using one ball at a time.

This just doesn't cut it, and for some it's too late.
Make your practices fun, don't be the coach that they hate.

They come to "play" soccer, not to "work" at the game.
Their excitement is something we don't want to tame.

Maradona has moves that are beyond comprehension.
No coach taught those moves while threatening detention!

He learned from his friends, and tried copying others,
While playing games, without coaches and mothers.

Soccer is different, not like baseball at all,
We don't need positions, just give them the ball.

They first must learn skill, it's the meat of the game,
If they can't dribble or shoot, then who should we blame?

Skill must be learned through repeated trials.
If motivation is present you will see teams run miles.

"Fun games" are the answer to encourage repetition.
They laugh and they scream and enjoy competition.

Without the skill to dribble past an opponent at will,
Your players may win, but their growth will stand still.

I dream of the day when the parents just cheer,
And losing the game doesn't bring out a tear.

When practice is fun, not dull and so boring,
And playing the game means more than just scoring.

I know you mean well, and you donate your time,
But bury your ego, and try something sublime.

Call all the parents, and ask for their aid,
You're teaching their kids and not getting paid.

Your goal's to develop a youngster with skill,
Not a team that must win, or some fancy new drill!

You see players are not judged by their wins and their losses,
Instead they are judged by their shots, headers and crosses!

Scholarships are given to players with great names.
Not to those on youth teams who never lost games.

A pro player gets paid 'cause his skills are real fine,
Not because his team never lost when he was just nine.

It's time to bring soccer to new heights in this nation.
The future's in players, not a coaching citation!

Let's start to say "dribble," and stop yelling "Pass!"
You'll then see our players go to the head of the class.

I hope you're concerned, but not really offended,
It's the need for more skill that I have defended.

You're giving your all, from the good of your heart,
Why not make sure the kids get the right start?

Note: Most of this would apply to most other sports.

A Word to Fans

(author unknown)

Please don't curse the kids down there.
Each is someone's child, you see.
They're only just children you know.
They mean a lot to parents like me.

I did not raise my child, dear fan,
For you to call him names.
He may not be a superstar, but it's
Just a high school game.

Please don't curse the kids down there,
They do the best they can.
They never tried to lose the game,
they're children and you're a fan.

The game belongs to them, you see,
You are just a guest.
They do not need a fan like you,
They need the very best.

If you have nothing nice to say,
Please leave the kids alone.
And if you have no manners,
Why don't you stay at home?

Please don't curse the kids down there,
Each one is a parents' child
Win or lose, or tie, you see,
To us they're number one.

Just a Little Person

(This could be adapted for other sports)

(author unknown)

They stand at the plate with hearts pounding fast;
The bases are loaded, the die has been cast.
Mom and Dad cannot help them, they stand alone
A hit at this moment would send the team home

The ball nears the plate, they swing and they miss
there's a groan from the crowd, with a boo and a hiss
A thoughtless voice cries, "Strike out the bum!"
Tears fill their eyes, the game's no longer fun.

So open your heart and give them a break
For it's moments like this, an adult you can make
Keep this in mind when you hear someone forget,
They're just a little person, not men and women yet.

Coaches Prayer

God grant me the insight to see the potential in every player;
the patience to encourage improvement
and the character to always set a winning example.

Getting into Heaven

Three basketball coaches flew to the NCAA convention. The plane crashed and all three died. They noticed God up in the clouds sitting in a chair. God motioned for them to come into the clouds and said he wanted to know three things: Who are you? What did you do? What did people think of you?
The first coach said, "I'm Mike Krzyzewski. I was the second best coach in the nation. I won two national championships and I always got the best recruits. The people of Durham think I'm great."
God said, "Fine, Mike, stand on my right side."
The next coach said, I'm Bob Knight. I was the third best coach in the nation. I won three National Championships, my teams were consistently ranked in the top 25, and won at least twenty games nearly every year. Hoosier fans think I'm great."
God said, "Fine Bob, stand on my left side."
The third coach stood before God and said, "I'm Roy Williams and I took the most storied program in college basketball from probation and turned it into a consistent top five program. I've won at least twenty-five games a season and taken my team to the NCAA tournament eleven times in a row, with nine Sweet Sixteen and two Final Four appearances while graduating over 93 percent of my players . . . and KU fans think you're sitting in my chair."

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