I was 11 and it was my first tackle football game ever. There was 1 min left in the game and I hadn't seen the field. My mom starts chewing the coach out for not putting me in and his response was "I don't want him to get hurt." I was really small, 4'8" and 60 lbs. My mom yelled at him some more saying that I was tougher than I looked and played bigger than I was. He agreed to let me go in and play corner for the last 2 plays of the game.

I was so embarrassed but grateful that my mom had my back. I haven't had that type of experience w/ my kids yet, but, hope I handle it in the correct way.

**The first play I was in, I blitzed on the backside and forced a fumble