The O is life. That’s the first thing you need to know about our family. The second is this: you can either like a sports team or be happy, you can’t have both. The upside of raising kids is now I’ve got more people to commiserate with.
In our house, Ducks green and yellow are non-negotiable. It’s my one religious obligation. You can’t be in this family unless you root for Oregon. And it doesn’t stop in Eugene, it carries into the pros with our “Go Ducks, Pro Ducks” pride. My son was born right as Justin Herbert came on the scene, so his Chargers jersey is always in the rotation. Saturdays are for the Ducks, Sundays are for Herbert.
Ball Night was created partly because I don’t get to watch sports as much as I used to. I was the guy who could run back-to-back SportsCenters like it was a full-time job. These days, I save it for the games that matter most: Ducks football and basketball always, playoffs across sports, and the Trail Blazers only when my heart has the capacity for the heartbreak. Ball Night brings the enthusiasm back into watching, and gives me an excuse to share that love with my kids.
What Ball Night Looks Like
Watch the Game
Whatever’s in season, we put it on Ducks, Blazers, Chargers, or a big playoff matchup. The point isn’t background noise, it’s being present with the game together.
Talk About the Game
We pause, rewind, and actually talk through what’s happening. I explain the rules, the strategy, and throw in plenty of random sports knowledge along the way. My kids are going to dominate trivia nights one day!
Marvel at the Athletes
These players are ridiculous. I point out their speed, their strength, the precision of what they’re doing things kids can easily miss if someone doesn’t break it down for them. Things like focus/discipline are applicable in all aspects of life.
Recreate the Action
We grab a ball and act it out. Maybe a dunk contest in the living room, maybe a quick football play. It doesn’t matter if it’s accurate it’s about moving, laughing, and trying. It’s always fun seeing which players your kids try to be like.
Cue the Theme Songs
Sports aren’t just plays on the field — they’re sounds in your head. My son sings the Sunday Night Football anthem on repeat, and both kids love Roundball Rock (shout out to Dave Tesh, the brains behind it). Theme songs keep the spirit alive even when the game’s off, and they’ve become part of our Ball Night soundtrack.
Why We Love It
Ball Night is about more than sports. It’s about teaching loyalty, tradition, and how to ride the highs and lows of fandom. We don’t say they, we say we. These are our Ducks, our Blazers, our teams. And now they’re my kids’ teams too.
The joy is in the cheering. The heartbreak is in the losses. But the connection? That lasts forever.
Kid Sports Essentials for Ball Night
| Item | Why We Love It | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set | Perfect for reenacting big plays inside or outside | Shop Here |
| Quiet Basketball | Still get some real bounce, without the noise | Shop Here |
| T-Ball Starter Set | A fun way to mix in baseball skills for younger kids | Shop Here |
| Sports Illustrated Kids: Big Book of Who | Keeps the sports talk going with trivia and player stories | Shop Here |
| Sports Illustrated Kids: Big Book of Football | Great for explaining a complicated sport in kids terms | Shop Here |
| Sports Illustrated Kids: My First Book of Basketball | Good to learn all the basic rules, fun to point out and talk about all the different players | Shop Here |
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👉 What about your family — do your kids have a favorite theme song, team chant, or game-day tradition? Share your Ball Night stories in the comments!
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