This interesting holiday is held each year in the third week of June. Begun in 2018, the week always includes Father’s Day. Perhaps this is because of the age-old activity of kids ‘having a catch’ with dad.
Playing Catch
When one hears the term ‘let’s play catch’, one might immediately picture two people with gloves and a baseball. But playing catch isn’t just for baseball. People enjoy tossing around a football just as much. You can also use a softball, a tennis ball or a soft rubber ball. Playing catch builds relationships, especially true of a dad playing with his child.
The History of National Play Catch Week
The inspiration began with Rhett Grametbauer, filmmaker, writer and passionate sports fan, in 2013. Rhett made an epic road trip in an old VW Bus to visit every one of the NFL stadiums in the U.S. He captured his incredible adventure in a documentary and a book entitled 25,000 Miles to Glory: Football, Freedom, Friendship, And America.
While on his trip, Grametbauer discovered the simple joy of playing catch, simply tossing a ball back and forth with someone. Strangers he met along the way all seemed to enjoy getting involved in a game of catch.
The iconic movie “Field of Dreams” with Kevin Costner centers around baseball and ends with the famous scene of Costner’s movie character asking “Want to have a catch, dad?”
Summary
So, get outside, enjoy some fresh air with family and friends, or even complete strangers at a park during the June Holiday of National Play Catch Week which begins on Father’s Day each year. The delightful pastime of playing catch can be enjoyed all summer long.
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*National Play Catch Week holiday review was written by Wednesday Elf
I don't think I ever gave much thought to "catch" being about building relationships, but it certainly does offer that opportunity. It just seemed like a normal, daily family, neighborhood, school thing to do when I was a child. Funny how it is given a week instead of just a day. Like any great relationship, it does take a little more time to truly establish and appreciate. It has been a long time since I watched "Field of Dreams", but I do remember loving that movie.
ReplyDeletePlaying catch is definitely a 'together' thing and does indeed build relationships. My favorite 'catch' memory was entertaining my little brother before dinner on summer evenings with playing catch in the driveway. Fifty years later we still enjoy getting together. :)
DeletePerhaps because I grew up in Manhattan, I didn’t learn to “play catch” until I was an adult. I never learned very well, lol. But I can see how, like going fishing (something I’ve never done but my husband and his dad did often), plating catch would be a great activity for having uninterrupted conversations with your playing partner.
ReplyDeleteWe did a lot of that with the boys when they were young. I sure miss that part of having young kids. But hey we can still play catch as adults too - even better. It really is a great way to spend time together.
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