About
Sports watching is in crisis. Especially in relationships and families. SO. MANY. INTERRUPTIONS. We're here to change that. Sports Watchers ... Unionize!
But, it wasn’t always like this. How did it get this way? Back story……….
When I was a kid, I played all kinds of sports, the main two being hockey and lacrosse, but also some high school sports and some others. I loved sports, they were my greatest teacher. The coaches I had along the way rivaled my educational teachers in what they contributed to my upbringing.
The sports career path I took was one very few did. I personally would not have had it any other way. Minor sports were hockey, lacrosse and high school sports, then some junior lacrosse where I was fortunate to win the Minto Cup in my final year. I also played collegiately in Canada and through that walked onto a pro team in Columbus. I got to experience the travel, arenas, fans, and schedule of pro sports in the National Lacrosse League in the early 2000’s. From there, I got to be a players union rep for our team, travelling to our PLPA meetings. In the summers I was fortunate enough to win 3 Presidents Cup in the 2000’s, playing into my 30’s. From there, our local team was a National Championship host, and I got to continue my coaching career as a full-time coach. We won Silver in that ‘08 Founders Cup. I coached part-time since I was 15 or so. Along the way, I got to meet some incredible outlandish people (absolute characters) that we’re about to swap stories with to this day. I did this all while working a full-time job in technology sales.
My first son Spencer was born when I was 26. He is a great kid and was a great kid back then. Raising a child while living in 1 and then 2 homes with him, while trying to play sports was a challenge. This time in my life made it’s way into the CBA.
My favorite teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Leafs were simply by osmosis living near Toronto, my love of the Steelers was created simply by being able to ‘run it up the middle’ in Madden ‘92 (video game) against my best friend, who I eventually was best man for. He got me back by getting married on the only day the Steeler’s would ever play an exhibition game in Canada.
This history is to give context on why the Sports Watchers Association was created: To give a standard set of rules for the different stages of life can affect your ability to watch and play sports.
In my early 20’s I remember playing in my own pro lacrosse game and having to ASK our trainer the score of the Pittsburgh Steelers AFC Championship games in 2001 and 2002.
In my early 30’s I remember a bunch of renovations pre-kids that had me trying to figure out how to watch games on my phone while walking through home improvement stores. I remember sleeping babies in my arms while playing sports video games. I remember big games during dinner time and how that was navigated (not well) and traveling to family and how that affected watching the game. I remember coaching kids sports on a few hours of sleep in the early morning after playing adult rec sports the night before. I learned you didn’t get a break that day on what needed to be done around the house.
In my 40’s I learned all about minor sports try-outs and how they’re different from when we were kids. I remember going to tourneys as a parent and as a coach and how the whole experience has changed.
The point is: I got to watch and play all my sports, but at a price. So there needs to be a standard set of rules for Sports FANS, not just the players. Hence the Collective Bargaining Agreement. There needs to be a way to navigate your dependent responsibility, while balancing your work, work around the house and all the other tasks of adult life with sports schedules, while getting acknowledged and rewarded for your work. There needs to be a common set of rules around all aspects of family life and interacting with all levels of sports.
Have a read, and interact with the CBA as much as you like.
Kyle
