Athletic Support: Christmas Break?
eli.cranor@gmail.com


Dear Athletic Support: My son’s basketball coach has six practices scheduled over Christmas Break: three before Christmas and three after. With everything that’s happened this year, we were really hoping to just get some time off over the next two weeks. I’ve seen a bunch of posts on social media blasting teachers who’ve assigned homework or projects over the holiday, and I feel like these practices are much the same. The players, parents, and coaches need a break at the end of this crazy year. Don’t you think?

— Give Me A Break


Dear Break: Remember the old story, “The Tortoise and the Hare?” The one where the slow but steady turtle wins the race against the rabbit who’s constantly jumping out ahead of the competition?

That timeless parable is the perfect analogy for what every coach and player is up against at the end of 2020. This year has been anything but normal. People are exhausted, both mentally and physically. They’re at wit’s end.

The best way to overcome this sort of fatigue — any fatigue, really — is by actually resting. I realize this isn’t easy for highly-motivated athletes and coaches (I battle with the exact same problem in regard to my writing workload), but if there were ever a time for rest, this is it.

My advice here goes further than just preparing for the upcoming season. Many of us have been hunkered down, trying to weather the latest spike in COVID cases. If you’re transporting your son to basketball practice, there’s a better chance your Christmas plans could get cancelled.

Time with family isn’t worth a couple of holiday practices. For that reason alone, I’d urge you to withhold your child from participating. I know this won’t be an easy or popular decision, but the results could be well worth the sacrifice.

After spending quality time with his family, your son might come back from the break feeling better than ever.


Dear Athletic Support: My daughter is nine, but she’s very serious about sports. For the last few days she’s been planted at the kitchen table trying to come up with an “athletic” New Year’s resolution. Any suggestions?

— Just Tryin’ 2 Help

Dear Help: First off, I’m impressed that your daughter is actively trying to better her game by setting goals. Planning for success is one of the best ways to actually achieve it.

When making goals — or in this case, resolutions — one thing to remember is that they need to be tangible. In other words, your daughter needs to be able to tell if she’s actually reached her goal.

A resolution like, “I want to be a better player,” won’t do her any good.

Instead, I would urge your daughter to make a work-based goal. Something that involves a daily number of repetitions or time spent honing her craft. If she’s a basketball player, something like, “Make fifty free throws a day,” would be a great place to start.

Whatever she decides, just make sure your daughter can actually gauge whether or not she’s achieved it by the end of 2021.

Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!


Eli Cranor is a former professional quarterback and coach turned award-winning author. Please use the “Contact” page at elicranor.com to send in questions for “Athletic Support.”


Outside of athletics, kids’ brains are also at risk. Who knows what sort of impact virtual learning will have on their cognition and critical thinking skills. In this regard, I offer one simple tool — a good book! And luckily, I know just the book for kids struggling with the shift to virtual learning:

BOOKS MAKE BRAINZ TASTE BAD! Okay, you caught me… I’m the author of this book. It was published last week and awarded a #1 New Release ranking on Amazon. BMBTB deals directly with the same topic covered in this column, except in a much more lighthearted, kid-friendly way (zombie teachers and brain-munching screens!) If you end up purchasing this book for your children or grandchildren, I only have one final suggestion — ask them to read it while standing up! Eli Cranor's new book Books Make Brainz Taste Bad has just been released. ZOMBIES HATE BOOKS! Especially the zombie teachers at Haven Middle School. That's why they're using VR headsets to fry kids' brainz. Luckily, Dash Storey knows how to save his classmates from the zombie teachers—BOOKS! They make brainz taste bad! "Eli Cranor has an almost unbeatable advantage. He can remember how it felt to think like a twelve-year-old and he can see the very same events like the adult he is. Don't try to resist this book!" - Jack Butler, Pulitzer-Prize nominated author

Previous Athletic Support Columns:
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• Parents who refuse to wear masks to games
• My son doesn’t wear a jockstrap
• The ‘game’ is over, let’s shake hands
• Can grandpa come to my game?
• Can’t go to her games like I used to
• ACL injuries on the rise in youth sports
• High school hot seat?
• Daughter rolls ankle: Time to walk it off?
• College football cancelled but my son’s still playing
• Shift to virtual learning causing lag in young athletes
• What you look for, you will find
• Back to school woes
• Football guidelines a breeze compared to band
• What to do if your season stalls
• Left behind
• Travel ball leads to constipation
• Collegiate sports for fun or money?
• No right answer
• Sunburns not part of the game
• Summertime soreness
• Vulnerability is key in uncertain times
• Sick of COVID-19
• Racial tensions rise as sports gear up again
• Silver lining for post pandemic sports
• Wearing masks to practice
• Coach disappears after season is cancelled
• What happens to the team if a player gets COVID-19?
• Will there be football in the fall?
• With sports gone, son’s grades tanking
• Lost without sports
• Teddy bears and tessellations
• Cornavirus? We’ve got games to play!
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• What’s that smell? It’s not as bad as you think
• A break from school but not from sports
• Should a coach pray with his team?
• Coach tells player not to shoot
• Do nice guys (and girls) really finish last?
• Coach cancels post-season awards banquet
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• Withholding football as punishment
• Sick and tired of losing
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• Hunting or Football?
• Beat the Heat
• Idle Hands
• Coach’s son gets special attention