A card from Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Extracurricular (Kids; Sports)
If you think this card means just showing up on the right field at the right time to cheer on your kid, you couldn’t be more wrong. While the Execution can be rewarding when you’re there to watch your child hit a home run, the Conception and Planning are more tedious and require tremendous forethought. What are the equipment needs? What’s the game schedule? And when do you have to provide the team snack?
Note! This card also pairs with the “Transportation (kids)” and “Packing (local)” cards. Not only are you responsible for making sure the mitt is in the bag, but you’re also on the hook for coordinating how your kid will get to the field on time.
Holding this card means owning all three
Conception
Kids have extracurricular activities
Planning
- Determining child's desired activities
- Researching all sports options (school, gyms and/or community leagues)
- Surveying child's friends to see if child can play with friends (in consult with “Friendship” cardholder)
- Determining practice and game schedules
- Managing at-home practice and preparation and/or arranging for additional support/coaching (consult with “Tutoring/Coaching” cardholder)
- Researching equipment needs
- Arranging for transportation to practices and games
Execution
- Signing up and registering for the sports lesson/team
- Purchasing/storing/laundering/updating necessary uniforms/equipment/cleats
- Packing necessary items in bag for practice and games (including uniform, water bottle, and snacks)
- Volunteering when necessary (snack sign-up, end-of-season party, etc.)
Suggested Minimum Standard of Care
Are you fostering your children's goals, which may include friendship, life skills, healthy competition, coordination, and brain development? Is it consistent enough for your kid to be enriched by the experience (meaningful exposure), and are they demonstrating improvement?
A starting point. You and your partner agree the real standard together, and the holder meets it without reminders.
Holding it well
- It’s a Daily Grind: relentless and time-bound. Make sure each of you holds a fair share of these, ideally one from each suit.
- The holder owns all of it: noticing, planning and doing. No “just tell me what to do.”
- Agree the Minimum Standard of Care together, then let the holder meet it their way.
- Not working? Bring it to the weekly check-in and re-deal it. Don’t take it back mid-week.
Put this card on your table
Deal it, agree its standard, and see who holds what. Free.