2-4-6-8 Who Do We Appreciate?

Everyone knows the \’2-4-6-8-Who-Do-We-Appreciate\’ cheer that is performed at the end of most youth games. It is a great display of sportsmanship, especially when the cheering team has lost or is upset with the other team. It is important to let things go after a game. This cheer along with the shaking of hands or high-5\’s is a good way of achieving this.

When I coached my kids\’ teams, I always used this cheer at the end of games. I also used it at the end-of-the-year parties. However, at these parties, I had the players \’appreciate\’ the people who truly needed to be thanked–the parents.

As the last item on the agenda,

• I gathered all the players around me.
• I explained to them that they were going to do the cheer once last time. But this time, they were going to thank their parents or their guardians who took them to all the practices and games and who washed their dirty and smelly uniforms.
• I told them that this had to be the best and most passionate cheer of the year.
• Finally, I asked the players that at the end of the cheer, they go to the adults they thanked and give them a big hug and kiss.

If you are like me, I will take all the hugs and kisses I can get from my kids.