Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 19, 2012

14

SPORTS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, May 19, 2012 


HUDDLE UP!


Special Guest Columnist: Mrs. Harvey Hyde

“ALL IN THE FAMILY”

 One of the ‘gifts’ from my husband this Mother’s Day, was a 
request to be the guest contributor for this column. He asked, so a 
few words from the wife. 

 In my day, there was no reality TV, just reality. Our family’s 
coaching days are in the past, but we’re still a football family and 
appreciate all we learned from our coaching life. 

 I knew at the outset my husband wanted to be a football coach. 
I decided early on to learn what I could about the game. I did. And 
taught our daughters. Two generals and their officers and armies 
trying to conquer territory with their division: offense, defense and special teams. Scoring 
points, holding the other team back, making that last minute field goal or running back the 
last kick-off -- or not. A win or a loss. 

 But much of the learning for wives is not about the game, but about the time outside of 
the game. It’s about learning to compete, not with another person, but with 100 players, 12 
coaches, a lifestyle, an addiction to all that is involved with the game. With the excitement 
(and anxiety) of getting ready, of winning, of getting over a loss, landing that great player, 
and the resulting comments on TV, radio, magazines and newspapers analyzing why this did 
or did not happen.

 When my husband was head coach, part of my role was reminding the other wives that: 1. 
If you need lots of attention, don’t expect to get it during the season. 2. Don’t listen to what 
people say in the stands. 3. One person does not win or lose the game. 4. Don’t worry about 
what the other “division” did or did not do. (Remember Mrs. Brady after the Super Bowl? If 
only those other guys had caught those beautiful passes from Tom they would have won.) 

 Football is about a three month playing season, nowhere near as many games as in baseball 
or basketball. In college, the work is almost all year round. There’s recruiting, home visits, 
scouting, planning schemes, spring practices, two-a-days; making travel arrangements; 
keeping players happy, studying, eligible and healthy; There are weekend and late night 
meetings studying films and planning and analyzing our team and opponents. With a 
winning season, there’s even more of the same. There’s hiring (or firing) and replacing 
coaching, office or support staff. Except for a couple months, hours are never 9 to 5. 

 In our family we shared in all the “team” spirit during the season. Our girls were ‘gum 
girls’ cheerleading mascots and, later, school hosts with booster receptions and banquets and 
hospitality rooms. We prepared for and watched games and cheered and moaned like the 
rest of you and, the next day, suggested corrections on plays called during the game. 

 In addition to giving football advice, wives often have a job “outside the home.” But we still 
drive kids to school, help with homework, take out the trash, get the kids to sports practice 
and doctors’ appointments and make teacher conferences. We call and meet with the repair 
man, coach soccer and softball teams, attend horse shows and music concerts. We keep 
dinners warm and the weekends calm and mellow. 

 After the season, recruiting and spring ball, the short summer arrives at about Mother’s 
Day, Pop is back home and ready to take charge of the house as he has the team. 

 More adjustments. The house has not been run with dad for a while. I’m sure families 
of people who travel frequently and certainly, those with deployed military, face this same 
dilemma. The at-home person learns to be decisive and independent, and then the partner 
returns, with new routines and rules, and opinions. 

 It was always a nice surprise when dad arrived at one of our games or shows or conferences. 
Oh oh, Dad is here, hope he doesn’t yell at some referee or shout out some direction that the 
team just discussed not doing. Swing, don’t swing, take, don’t steal. At times, his cheers and 
suggestions had a way of annoying coaches and officials who thought, “Who is this guy?”

 I won’t go into detail, but just as coaches have their ‘war stories’ about games and plays and 
players, our girls have their own stories about Dad’s presence at their events and activities. 

 It’s been a few years, but it was an amazing experience. We all learned 
as a coaching family. We learned a great deal about competition, and 
football (of course.) The girls learned that boys are often surprised when 
girls know more than they do about a game. We all learned that making a 
move to another team in another town and other schools and other jobs, 
while stressful, can be survived. And we learned that survival and this 
kind of teamwork can (and did) teach us something about ourselves that 
prepares us for life beyond. 

 And it’s nice to be looking back. 

ADD 15 MORE YARDS TO YOUR TEE SHOT IN 90 DAYS 

If you want to add 15 more yards to your tee 
shot-in three months, do what I did. I have a 
confession to make. Less than 24 months ago, 
my great friend Harvey Mackay asked me if I 
wanted to play 18 holes the following week. I 
had cut way back on my golf both playing and 
practicing for the past couple of years and I 
was not looking forward to this round of golf.

 

By the time I reached the 12 hole he (74 year 
old) Harvey had outdriven me four times. 
Harvey was playing to a 9 at the time and he 
is a great driver of the golf ball. I should say 
straight driver of the golf ball with an average 
of 225 yards. If I hit it well I was maybe 15 
yards past him. However if I missed the tee shot a tiny bit, I was hitting first onto the green.

 

When I walked up to the 13th tee, I remember it as thou it was yesterday, I decided that I 
was going to do something about my golf game. The first thing I needed to do was start 
practicing and the second thing was to CATCH UP with the game. It was passing me by. 
The game was changing (getting longer) and I was stuck in neutral.

 

The next moring I ordered a Momentus Heavy Hittable Driver off of the internet with overnight 
delievery. I could hardly pick it up. I took it to the range, swung it five times and 
almost feel over. That is when I decided that I needed to come up with a routine so I could 
take advantage of my new club.

 

I decided that I was going to swing the club 25 times, three days a week whether I was 
at the golf course or not. In the backyard I went every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 
Once I started using it at the practice facility I then came up with another way to use it. 
During practice sessions I swung it three times for every six balls I hit. I like to hit three 
draws, three fades, three straight shots and then three swings with the heavy driver.

 

On days that I play, I have another routine that I have used for years. I hit three shots with 
every club in my bag. Now my routine includes swinging the heavy driver one time every 
time I change clubs.

 

OK, I know you are dying to hear the results. The only reason I am not going to tell you 
how much further I am hitting the ball is that everybody is different. The one thing I will 
tell you is that I am back. I have caught up with the sport and…well ok, I am at least 20 
yards further off of the tee and 1.5 clubs longer with my irons. BUT, I have been VERY 
committed to this process. I have not missed a day in two years.

 

VERY IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

 

#1. Warm up before you pick up a heavy driver and start swinging it

 

#2. Even thou it says it is a HITTABLE club, make 200 practice swings with it before you 
start hitting balls. You have to get use to it first.

 

#3. This is NOT an overnight fix for short tee shots. Stay committed to see results.

 

#4. I added 15 yards in the first three months, I kept going so I can keep what I have!!!

 

#5. Harvey Mackay (USE YOUR HEAD TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR) is a 
genius at dishing out great business advice. I took advantage of his lesson to me.

 

Start using a HITTABLE HEAVY DRIVER today and you will add 15 more yards to your 
tee shot-in three months, like me.

Like to learn more? Go to: www.bobbyeldridgegolf.com


Coach Harvey Hyde


SIERRA MADRE 2012 SUMMER ADULT 
CO-ED SOFTBALL REGISTRATION

Grab your friends and neighbors and sign a team up for our 2012 
Summer Adult Softball League! Games will be played on Sunday 
from 2:00pm - 10:00pm and Wednesday evenings from 6:00pm - 
10:00pm. Don’t have a team? No worries! Sign yourself up as a free 
agent and we’ll place you on a team. All players must be over 18 
years of age to play. 

 

The Sierra Madre Adult Co-ed Softball League is divided into an 
“A” league geared towards the competitive participants, and a “B” 
league for recreational competition. The champions of each league 
receive t-shirts! Due to the limited field space, registration is limited. 
Be sure to sign up early and don’t miss out on the 2012 season! 
Please note that team sign-ups may have a free agent added to the 
roster. For more information contact 626-355-5278.

Season: Late June through August

Cost: $320 per team or $32 per player

Registration: Must be done in person at the Community 
Recreation Center, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.

Games Site: Heasley Field located at Sierra Vista Park

Deadline: Teams and players must register by Monday, June 4, 2012

SANTA ANITA PARK LOOKING FOR 
VOLUNTEERS FOR THE THE 2012 
BREEDERS' CUP

This is your chance to be part of the action by welcoming 
thousands of guests to Santa Anita Park for the world's greatest 
races! The Breeders' Cup takes place November 2 and 3, 
2012. Please contact Connie Russell to register or get more 
information at 626-574-6664 or crussell@santaanita.com.