SF Bay Area mom and teacher Cindy Knapp grew up in a football-loving family cheering for the San Francisco 49ers. She met her husband, Joe, at Sac State where he was attending to play football. Their kids, Logan and James, naturally took to throwing a football at a young age and asked to join the team on the eve of 7th grade. When both boys would come home from practice wanting to talk about plays and spend their off time getting better, Cindy knew the Knapps were in football for the long run. Her boys had both found a positive passion in football and loved all aspects of it – watching, playing, and coaching.
Football has brought the Knapp family together by having a common language. Cindy and her daughter relishes the quality time spent watching the Knapp brothers play. Sunday football is not only a weekly ritual in their household but brings their community together over the common love of the sport. Once the Knapp boys started high school, their friendships continued to blossom with their football teammates. “For my senior, Logan, his closest friends are his three teammates that he has known for years but started playing football their freshman year together. They frequently watch films together on the weekend and hang out before and after games. My other son, James, has already made positive friendships with his teammates. I think the bond is so tight because they work out/practice daily in the summer, overcome obstacles as teammates, and generally have the same goals.” gushes Cindy. She continued, “You can’t put a price on the life skills and friendships that football has provided for my family.”
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Football has fostered so many of Cindy and Joe’s adult friends. “As parents, we love our social crew at all their games. We are cheering for the same team, want the same outcome for all our boys, and have fostered lifelong friendships as adults.” Cindy says. She also sends love and major props to fellow football moms, with whom she chats weekly about teenagers, washing uniforms, and feeding these boys, while watching each other’s kids play. “Have you ever gagged in a laundry room? Only a football mom knows the smell of an after-game football uniform!” Cindy laughs. “We cheer on each other at games and have built a bond through our boys that I will cherish for years.” Even when their friends are no longer playing on the same team, the connections are still strong as they all have the same football goals, live the same hectic football life, and speak the same language.
As an educator, Cindy can’t say enough about football’s positive impact on her boys’ academics. “As a teacher mom, I know kids aren’t always motivated to complete schoolwork, teenagers especially. Football has provided both boys with the discipline to get school work completed so they can play in the next game.” she continued, “Logan had to buckle down on his academics due to his athletic abilities if he wanted to achieve a scholarship. The work ethic taught on the field also helped them achieve a work ethic in the classroom.” According to Cindy and Joe, the intensity, the teamwork, and all football brings a level of grit that not all sports have. Football has helped provide the Knapp boys with more discipline, from waking up early to lift weights, to attending summer practices when others are on vacations, to running another line drill when you feel like you have nothing left in the tank. Being a team sport, football has also built social skills that will surely benefit them later in life.
It truly is a team sport.
They have learned that teammates are relying on them to do their jobs, and to lift them up when they’re down – most importantly, they have learned how the small goals can come together to achieve the big team goals.
“Coaches can make or break a teenager. Both boys have learned to work with different coaching styles, and I think this will only benefit them later in life when dealing with coworkers. They haven’t always liked their coaches, but have learned to be respectful and listen to their coaching.” said Cindy. One particular coach, Coach Murphy, has coached Dad in high school and is now coaching the boys in high school. He is a conversation piece at the house and is looked up to by all the Knapp boys. Cindy states, “Football has helped my boys make goals, and learn about the importance of health…all while having fun with their friends. Plus, it has kept our family close (and connected offline) in this technology-driven world.” Cindy’s best advice to families starting out on their football journeys: don’t stress about each play, dropped catch, or bad game. Remind yourself it’s a game, and that kids are playing for fun. After each game remember to say, “It’s so fun watching you play!”
Learn about more ways to engage in the positive world of sports by visiting Future For Football. Check out its League Locator tool too to find options in your area of DFW. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram!
