The Wiseley Family - A Team, on and off the Court

A teamed-up family—The Wiseleys of Macungie love sports: (l-r) mother Meg plays tennis and golf; Beth, 11, plays basketball and soccer; Frank, 17, is on his high school football and basketball teams; Trisha, 15, is also a high school athlete in basketball and soccer; father Frank coaches basketball in various leagues; and Matthew, 13, is a basketball and travel baseball player. For more on this active family, click here or call 610-402-CARE.

Frank, Jr. is off to football practice, Trisha and Matt have basketball games, Beth is playing in a soccer match. On any given day, at least one of the four Wiseley children is headed for a game, as part of either a school or community team. Mom and Dad, Frank and Meg, juggle their game and practice schedules with school activities, piano lessons, homework and their own jobs and sports schedules. How do they keep it all straight—and is it worth it?

For this Macungie family, the answer to that second question is a resounding “Yes!”

“Team sports are part of the fabric of our family and our children’s development,” Frank Wiseley says. “Children learn how to compete and how to bond with each other when they’re on a team. Our kids have made new friends with similar interests, and so have we. Sports are a great way to get to know and spend time with your children, their friends and their friends’ families.”

The Wiseley children’s passion for sports no doubt comes from their parents. Frank played football, basketball and baseball as a youth, and Meg played basketball and tennis. They now play tennis and golf together, and Frank has coached each of his children at various stages. The children began playing in youth and CYO leagues around age 5.

“The kids have grown through sports, and we’ve grown with them,” Frank says. “They learn the game and develop playing skills while we develop coaching and parenting skills. We’ve learned together.”

As children progress, he says, their personal and team goals and expectations become more focused on observable development and winning. Their passion fuels their drive and practice motivation. They play hard and expect to succeed.

“Success is not necessarily winning the game or making the varsity team,” he says. “The wins and losses are secondary to us. We try to focus more on playing the game and making new friends. The more sports you play, the more friends you make. And if you focus on the success of the team and the chemistry between players, you’ll be a winner every time out.”

Teamwork is the name of the game at home, too. “From early on, we’ve tried to guide our children on managing time and setting priorities, while always keeping it light and fun,” Meg says. “They know that playing competitive sports is important, but not above academics. They’ve managed to find a nice balance between sports, friends, school, family and faith, and they all chip in around the house. That’s a valuable life lesson.”

The Wiseleys also value the lessons about nutrition, fitness, conditioning and health that come with playing sports. Perhaps the most valuable lesson for Frank and Meg is in appreciating what they have.

“It takes a lot to make this work,” Frank says. “You have to love it, and you need a super spouse (along with a cell phone, GPS system and large, color-coded calendar). I tell other parents, ‘Take full advantage of it while you can; it’s such a short period in your life.’ We’re so fortunate to have experienced it four times. We know we’ll miss it when it’s over.”

Printed from Healthy You Magazine September October 2007

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