Friday, October 12, 2018

Coaching with Ben Seewald


Ben Seewald is looking forward to coaching alongside Steve Conley, former defensive end and linebacker for the University of Arkansas and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Do you remember when Ben helped run a football camp with Steve? In this video he and Jessa meet with some of the coaches to prepare for an upcoming game.


Photo/video courtesy TLC

147 comments:

  1. Jessa really went all out picking up that chick-fil-a party platter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why is that Jessa's fault? (And besides, I thought it looked pretty good.)

      Delete
    2. Kudos to Jessa for hostessing in a less-stress way. Moms with several littles should look for efficient ways to go about life, and a yummy Chick-fil-A platter for a bunch of football players seems like a smart move.

      Delete
    3. It's nothing to be a shamed about. It was a smart move to me.

      Delete
    4. plus she couldn't burn it that way ;)
      (kidding... I actually think she's better in cooking than she says!)

      Delete
    5. Anon @ 2:05 Jessa has two children not several, but agree young children take up a lot of your time, so whatever makes life less stressful.

      Delete
    6. Lighten up. It's OK to feed your family Chic=fil-A once in a while.

      Delete
    7. Perhaps she asked beforehand what they wanted and served what was requested.

      Delete
    8. I think that’s a great idea. I hate to cook and rely on restaurants a lot. I would rather spend my time with guests than in kitchen service. I think a good hostess focuses on her guests not just their appetites.

      Delete
    9. Anon 8:01.... I think I know what's going on here. I think if she didn't serve Chick Fil-A, you probably wouldn't had said anything. Chick Fil-A can have their own opinion but I don't see nobody going off at McDonalds for not serving the homeless. But hey, at least Chick Fil-A serves real chicken and none of that processed stuff.

      Delete
    10. 12:33, you'll note that I didn't actually say Jessa had several children.

      Delete
    11. Jessa's home all day. How hard is it to put something in the oven or the crock pot and have a homemade meal ready for guests? She didn't have to serve a 5-course meal, just some good hearty food for those men.

      Delete
    12. Wow..Chick-fil-a is expensive to feed all those guest. They must not be on a budget anymore. When I have guests from my husband's work or guest from church for Bible study. I serve little smokies. Tortilla chicken, beef, and veggie wraps, cheese balls and crackers, fresh cut fruit trays, fresh cut veggie trays, and desert platters. Cost way less than Chick-fil-a and much more variety and easier on the budget.

      Delete
    13. Jessa, Smart and practical, you go girl!🤗

      Delete
    14. Well I for one am very upset about the chick-fil-a, and not because they served it but that I wasn't there to eat it. LOL We love Chick-fil-a in my family and everything on that table in that video looked yummy, so yeah I'm upset about this Jessa. LOL

      Delete
    15. Maybe Ben chose the meal. Why is it always assumed that the woman is behind, and should be responsible for, any meal??

      Delete
    16. @3:02 PM - It's not an assumption. The Duggars have been open and clear, on many occasions, that they take on traditional gender roles. Jessa is responsible for meals, the home, and child care because she is not expected to work outside of the home. Of course, it doesn't always seem that the men of this family uphold their end of the deal, so maybe Jessa feels justified in not cooking.

      Delete
    17. Exactly, 1:35. She could have made a turkey or some pork roasts or some chicken on the grill. Something that would have fed a crowd, which she should be very used to feeding! I thought all their recipes say, "Serves 20."

      Delete
    18. Anon 4:11 From what I see it's like the male and female roles are the same in these families. The men are home being homemakers too which seems so odd. What exactly are the women doing since we never see actual meals that they cook, or them being the caretakers of the kids without the help of the husband. I come from a large family and when we girls got married, the ones who are stay at home Moms cook big delicious dinners for our husband and children. We do the house cleaning, and host but dinners for family and friends at our homes. We were raised to know how to cook and care for children and a home, so I'm wondering if the Duggars had maids and cooks who just weren't shown on tv. Because it seems like the Duggar girls are completely dependent on their husbands help around the house and with the kids all day. The Bates girls don't seem so dependent like that and their men work too.

      Delete
    19. Interesting points, 3:43. I've felt, since watching Counting On, that the Duggar girls are silently "rebelling," whether they realize it or not, by making their husbands do housework. Now don't get me wrong - I'm all for chore sharing. Dishwashers and washers don't care who loads them. But we have a group of girls here who were raised with clearly defined roles and duties. To see those roles dissolve after marriage is puzzling. Jessa is the most puzzling, since she seems totally uninterested in cooking or cleaning, although she must know they have to be done. She hands those things off to whomever is available. She's lucky Ben isn't as stuck on the idea of women doing housework as her father and her bothers are.

      Delete
    20. Anon 3:43. If I was Jim Bob I think I would put a stop to anyone wanting to marry one of my daughter's not having a job that they have been actively employed in for a couple years. That is not a good witness to others seeing a daughter's husband not holding a full time job. My Dad would never be ok with that. My Dad would just come out and tell our potential spouses that if you can't work then you are not ready to marry, so move along until you grow up. LOL

      Delete
    21. Anon 9:35 My Dad would be saying that and even more.☺ I wouldn't want my husband to feel emasculated by having to be home doing my job when I'm home all day and he gets to see men his age holding jobs and taking financial care of their families. That's terrible to do to a man and something tells me that there will be problems ahead if this dysfunction continues.

      Delete
    22. Maybe chick-fil-a paid for an advertisement, product placement, in their show. The Duggars have always endorsed that restaurant because of similar values. Hope they got paid for it. Why not, right! It’s fast food my kids will actually eat and it seems healthier than most drive thrus.

      Delete
  2. As I recall, the past coverage of Ben's involvement in a football camp was a bit disingenuous. The show seemed to imply that Ben had come up with the idea and organized it, where in reality the event was put on by an established organization and he merely stepped in to participate. It is nice that Ben has such an interest in football and wants to find outlets for that, but I don't like seeing the family intentionally misrepresent themselves and their contributions. Also, this isn't an event "for kids." It's clearly an event "for boys."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn’t get the impression that Ben had been the one to organize it last time, but I understand how that could be thought. Also the program could still be open to girls, but most parents don’t take their daughters to football camp, because while there may be a few who would enjoy it, most little girls don’t. At least the ones I know.

      Delete
    2. Exactly! The way the show made it seem like Ben was the football camp's chief organizer was an insult to Mr. Conley and the other coaches who had invested their time and efforts into making the camp successful. The organization gets exposure from Ben's involvement but it should have been made clear that he was a volunteer.

      Delete
    3. Why in the world would someone send their daughter to a football camp? If your only resort for an activity for your daughter is football camp then it's time for you to move and live in an area that offers more options for your daughter. Football camp for your daughter, that's just crazy!

      Delete
    4. I think the role Ben has played in "football camp" is somewhat exaggerated. He appears to be a volunteer who is not really in charge of anything.

      Delete
    5. @9:26 Girls play football! From the Pop Warner level to high school, and beyond. There's a US women's football league.

      Did you consider that maybe a girl would WANT to go to that football camp? That it wasn't "a last resort" for her? It's not crazy at all. Females can be excellent athletes.

      Delete
    6. 9:26, what about girls who really want to play football? You are really stereotyping girls, by assuming that no girl would want to do that. I say Let girls and boys be free to choose.

      Delete
    7. What's wrong with girls wanting to play football? I've known many girls and younger women that have played on teams, and many older women that wish they'd had the opportunity to play.

      Delete
    8. Where in the world do you people run into all these girls lining up to go to a football camp or to play professional football? I've been around for awhile now and know lots of people and I am yet to run into even 1 girl wanting to play football. A girls body is not made to take being tackled and sent flying in a rough sport like football.

      Delete
    9. Ben did misrepresent himself as far as his involvement with the youth football camp. I thought it was his idea and the coaches volunteered to work for him as volunteers. Then out comes truth that he intercepted himself into this program as a volunteer. Glad he is volunteering. That is very noble of him. No reason to take credit where it is not due though.

      Delete
    10. 9:26am why crazy? Girls can football too you know... and they could be pretty good too!!

      Delete
    11. 9:26....what??? The Bible doesn’t exactly say that girls can’t play football. Wow.

      Delete
    12. Let's just face it, while there ARE girls who like to play football, it's less common than boys who like to play football. It sounds like the camp is open to both girls and boys, but looks like no girls happened to want to be at the camp. It's not Ben's fault than some girls don't CHOOSE to join a football camp.

      Delete
    13. Lorena it's not that it is wrong for girls to play football but that it is a rough sport where you get tackled, knocked to the ground, so why would a girl choose to treat herself like that? Why can't a woman celebrate being a female and choose sports that are more appropriate for a female body? I don't understand this trend about wanting males and females to have no difference between them. We are very different, and that difference is a beautiful thing, not a thing to try to go in denial about. There is a reason that major football teams are males.

      Delete
    14. @9:14 - While I will agree that football is much more commonly played by boys, suggesting that the dangers of tackle football are more dangerous for girls is silly. Let's not forget, just a few decades ago doctors said that women couldn't run marathons because their uterus would fall out. In truth tackle football is dangerous for everyone and nobody should be playing it, even the pros who wind up with severe brain damage.

      Delete
    15. Listen, I’m not going to say girls can’t play football or any sports that are more rough, but I will say that my brother has been wrestling for the last ten years, and all girls that have ever been wrestling at the tournaments he does (with the exception of one) drive me crazy. They complain and stop matches constantly because they think whoever they’re wrestling is being too rough (don’t join a rough sport and think you’re not ever going to get hurt), they typically leave the mat crying, and it gets really old really fast.

      Delete
    16. We played Flag Football in jr. high gym class, and it was boys AND girls playing together on the field. You didn't tackle, you captured a flag on the opponent's waist.

      @ 1:51 As far as bodies, you do know they come in all sizes and shapes for both boys and girls? You can't generalize and say that girls' bodies aren't built for a certain sport, when some most certainly are. Nor can you assume that all boys can play sports with their bodies. There's a wide range for each gender!

      Delete
    17. There are more differences between men than there are between men and women. In other words, there are many men who are not physically up to the challenge of playing a sort like American football whereas there are women that are.

      American football is not popular here. None of our highschools have football teams or cheer leader. But they do have rugby, soccer, lacrose, basketball,and hockey teams, both for girls and boys. Rugby is very popular with the girls and is actually very physically demanding.

      Delete
    18. I had to play football in high school with the boys... It was horrible! Girls don't belong playing sports with guys! Period! It's like that transgendered chick whose really a man win women's bicycle race. It's sick and real women should be ticked! But no...all in the name of P.C...

      Delete
    19. You had to play football? I’ve never heard of anyone, male or female, being forced to play on the football team.

      Delete
  3. I didn't know Ben was a football player. What position did he play?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He only played in high school that we're sure of. Not sure beyond that. He never played professionally.

      Delete
    2. I don't understand why people have to throw it their faces about job "professions" and "professional" sports. Seriously. It's so stuck up if you ask me and I am almost certain that people who is making a big deal about it has not done anything professional themselves because they are behind a computer screen judging others.

      Delete
    3. Wait! Wasn't Ben homeschooled?

      Delete
    4. I thought even homeschoolers kept track of where they were grade wise - elementary, middle, or high school. So you could say you were "in high school" even though you're being home schooled, because you're doing the work in those grades. Otherwise, how would you know to stop homeschooling and graduate?

      Delete
    5. 5:39, some states still allow homeschoolers to participate in their sports programs

      Delete
    6. Anon 5:39, some public schools allow homeschool kids and teens to join their sport activities :)

      Delete
    7. 5:39 I think that even if you are homeschooled or go to a private school, some public schools allow you to participate in their school sports.

      Delete
    8. Ben went to public school I believe.

      Delete
  4. Is this the same camp where they tried to give their own religious messages to the kids? Please tell me this isn't an activity tied to one religion and that the kids involved have to listen to messages from that one particular religion. But I have a feeling it's the same camp type program, if Ben and Steve are involved again. I hope it's inclusive for all kids who want to participate, regardless of their religious beliefs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kids don’t have to be Christians to participate in groups like that, and there is nothing wrong with them talking about Jesus at camps. If you want to shelter your kids away from that then don’t go to a Christian camp, for plain and simple.

      Delete
    2. I think if it is Christian based it would still be opened to kids of other religious faiths just like an Islamic or Jewish based football camp would no doubt be opened to kids of other faiths. If a parent has a problem with the religious part of the camp then send your child elsewhere. A religious camp does no have to bend its beliefs to appease another religion. Freedom of religion is still a protected right.

      Delete
    3. It's Christian based. They will know this when signing up their child. If it's written on people and this is what this camp is built on, there is nothing nobody can do except take their child somewhere else.

      Delete
    4. Freedom of religion means that a person cannot be forced to belong or practice a particular religion by the government. No one is stopping this religious based football camp so @12:14,your comment does not apply.

      However, I would hope that the organizers of this camp make it very clear that it is religious-based camp and the particular Christian group the camp belongs to. Minors are involved, after all. If they do and also spell out the role of religion in the camp, then the parents can make an informed decision.

      The camp may be open to non-conservative Christians but it is essential not, if religion is part of the camp. As long as that is made clear who the camp is for and what are the religious expectations,I see no problems.

      It is unfortunate that something like a sport camp cannot be truly open to all children. My children were part of city-wide sport club, coached by volunteer parents and by professional athletes. Religion, race, ethnicity and citizenship did not matter. The kids were there to have fun and learn the sport. As a byproduct, they learned to respect each other and made friends.


      Delete
    5. Why would you have to mix football with religion?

      Delete
    6. Everywhere around you there are options for children to attend purely secular activities or ones that have a religious component. If people want to send their children to a Christian camp, then they will hear about Jesus. If you want no religion, then send your children to a secular camp. If you want Jewish or Muslim etc then send them to that. There is something for everyone and no need to put down Christians.

      Delete
    7. 10:36, it's actually not unfortunate to make classes, camps, etc for specific groups of kids (even though that's not what Been is doing: his camp didn't seem to refuse children of other religions). Now days it's easy for people to cry foul when they think a group is being "left out" but that's LIFE. A camp for pianists leaves out flute players, a camp for children with cancer leaves out kids who don't have cancer, etc. If Ben chose to have a football camp for only Christian children, that's his choice, and there's nothing wrong with it. If children or parents have a problem with it, they are not being forced to go to the camp.

      Delete
    8. 9:14 I haven’t heard of any Christian camps that don’t allow nonChristian kids. You have to be a Christian to be a councilor at a Christian camp, but they typically encourage kids to bring their friends who aren’t Christians so they can hear about Jesus.

      Delete
    9. If they're trying to fill a need in the community, as they lead you to think they are, then it should serve the entire community that has that need, not just one segment of it.

      Delete
    10. Every kid needs Jesus, so it serves the entire community that has that need.

      Delete
    11. @10:14..Encouraging kids to bring their non-Christians friends so they can 'hear about Jesus' is disrespectful to the role of the parents of those kids to decide when and if to expose their children to different religions and views. How would evanglical parents feel if say, Islamic children were encourage to bring their evanglical Christian friends to religious camps do they could hear about the teachings of the Prophet?

      Evanglical Christians cannot preach "honor thy mother and father" and then encourage other children to not honor their parents.

      Delete
    12. 8:51, they are not encouraging them to bring non-Christian kids without parental approval. That would be disrespectful to the parents. If parents have to sign consent forms and allow their children to go, then the parents are the one making the choices. Why do you think they are just bringing friends without the parents knowing about it?

      Delete
    13. The organization’s website states that it’s open to anyone regardless of race or religion. There’s no mention of anyone trying to save souls or preaching.

      Delete
    14. Didn't they show a religious inspirational talk or a prayer circle or something along those lines when they showed that football camp on the show? I seem to remember there was a religious message of some sort along with the sports activities.

      Delete
  5. Has Ben ever played football at any grade level or on a highschool team? Or college team?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He played in high school

      Delete
    2. Community colleges don’t have football teams.

      Delete
    3. 12:24 - Some community colleges do have football teams and some community colleges allow their students to play for other college teams :)

      Delete
    4. I am not aware of any college or university that is allowed to use players who are not current students.

      Delete
    5. Ben played in high school. He is going to college but volunteering to coach boys football not play himself.

      Delete
    6. Anon 11:24 pm Our small town community college has a football team. They don't have a field so they play on the high schools field on Saturdays.

      Delete
  6. It seems Ben would be very happy as an educator and coach. Perhaps he should consider getting a bachelor's degree in teaching and pursuing that route.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like that they are all smart enough to go to college when they actually need it instead of risking and wasting money.

      Delete
    2. If Ben wanted to teach, a bachelor's in teaching would be necessary. His associate's in political science, however, seems to be going unused.

      Delete
    3. I agree...Ben would make an excellent teacher. He is great with the children.

      Delete
  7. i have come to very much respect Ben. It seems like he does a lot of the housework and work with the kids. This would be a great opportunity for Ben to have fun doing something he likes to do. He will be a fine mentor for those he coaches.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That's pretty cool Ben! In a few years Ben's sons can also be apart of this too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Is Ben helping to run another football camp?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That seems to be the plan. I think Spurgeon and Henry are a bit young to start playing football though.

      Delete
    2. In some schools, kids at the age of 5 can start playing football although it's very different and much safer than regular football.

      Delete
    3. How do you know that’s the plan, anon 12:49?

      Delete
    4. 11:05, but Spurgeon isn’t five so that still doesn’t apply

      Delete
  10. Good luck with the coaching Ben. God Bless.
    Joan,Marion and Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ben seems so nice.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thats good. I didn't like Ben that much at first, he wasn't real mature but he was only 18. he has matured of course and he is my 2nd favorite IN-LAW guy now. I like that he has different views than Duggars

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think Ben along with Derick and Jeremy are all confident in themselves and don't conform to Duggar ways as such. Will be interesting to see how many children they all have. I haven't really seen Austin to comment.

      Delete
    2. Really? What does he view that are different from his in-laws?

      Delete
    3. Are you sure you didn't get it mixed up? I thought Ben was really mature, especially for his age.

      Delete
    4. I believe Ben was raised as a Calvinist and not in the iblp movement. His sisters also wear pants and work outside the home. Of course these of his parents beliefs and Ben's could have changed.

      Delete
    5. I would also like to hear the OP explain what "different views" Ben has. He was carefully vetted by JB before joining the family, as were all the sons-in-law.

      Delete
    6. 1:03 am - That is half true but his family is no different from the Duggars. Some of the Duggar women do wear pants sometimes. Joy-Anna, Jinger and Jessa. But as Jana said, they mostly like to wear skirts.

      Delete
    7. Bens family is far more liberal than the Duggars. Ben's sister is a police officer. All his sisters work and wear pants. Ben is my favorite. He is awesome to Jessa and the boys. He does not confirm to gender roles. He cooks, cleans, watches his children. Jessa is one lucky young lady.


      Delete
    8. Carefully vetted by JB LOL. I don't think Jim Bob was real strict on the kids choices of a spouse and from what I see they were just required to be Christian and to be on a reality show. Everything else has changed like how some of them dress, not having a lot of kids, where they live and even down to their Denomination. Some are Calvinist etc. I think Jim Bob is a lot more easy going then people think he is.

      Delete
    9. @Suz-why and what makes you believe he has “different “ views than the Duggars?

      Delete
    10. @3:07 Have you forgotten about that 35 (or whatever number) page "application" that JB has the prospective husbands fill out? This is not a joke, this is a real thing that was discussed on the show after one of the daughters let it slip. Remember that?

      Delete
  13. Ben is my favorite member of the family. He is very open minded and not quite as traditional as the rest. Love Jessa as well.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Does anyone know how much playing experience Ben has had on a football field? Did he play football in elementary school or high school?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I could be wrong but I think they said on an old episode that he played in high school

      Delete
    2. He played in high school

      Delete
  15. I was wondering when Josiah and Lauren's honeymoon/John David and Abbie's courtship, engagement, bachelor/bachelorette party and wedding will air? Wonder who is next? I would love to see Mom Michelle homeschooling James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn and Josie and to see there graduations. Would love more outings and longer seasons. Missing Anna and her 5 kids. Can't wait to see Ben coaching the youth football. Would love to see entire families on the show. Natasha B.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The honeymoon will probably air next season along with John-David and Abbie's courtship + engagement :)

      Delete
    2. Hard to say. Maybe next year or on a special.

      Delete
    3. I know very little about home schooling but I really admire those who do it. I do have a question - do States have a standard that home schoolers have to follow? Are their standardized tests to take to make sure certain subjects are covered?

      Delete
    4. to anon oct 14 @ 9:09pm : absolutely! and each state is different. for example, in my state you can use whatever materials you want. at first i would go to the library and check out books and prepare a curriculum for each of them, following another states requirements (which were much better). i later moved on to individual books, which i let them pick out (of the ones i approved). either way, i had to have a planner that showed each subject and what work needed to be completed that day, in each subject, for all 3 of them. this way if the school board called you in for a check-up, they could be sure everyone is up-to-date. we did history, geography, civics, reading, phonics, spelling, vocabulary, writing, literature, english, language and maths including geometry and algebra. every 4 weeks we went to the library and got 1 book that was a requirement and 3 they picked out themselves. the library also had a kids after school art club one day a week so we would go there for art. we are only required 3 hours per day because you are working one-on-one instead of one-on-thirty. what they didnt get done during the allotted time frame was 'homework'. i kept the same days off schedule as the schools so they could be with their friends. at the end of the school year, you are required to schedule a test for them and bring in all their work and your planner for them to check. there is a fee for the test each year to be sure you are on tract. you can take your ged for your certificate of completion/diploma. you can also do a dual enrollment into your closest school for sports and some clubs. we have a high amount of home schoolers here. on my sons baseball team thru the local little league, there were 4 home schooled kids. (that was just 1 team of 12 kids!) after my boys went to high school, i went back to strictly abeka with my daughter as she is dyslexic and abeka provided that repetition she needed. homeschooling also affords you the opportunity to teach religion(s) without offending anyone and any other subjects not taught in schools, like life skills! when my youngest went to high school, they automatically enrolled her in all ap classes because she was previously homeschooled! in 4 years she never was on anything less than the honor roll.

      Delete
    5. 9:09. That depends on the state. Where I live in SC, they do require standardized testing every other year, and to me, that is beneficial because it keeps people accountable. There are also requirements in some states for homeschoolers to be aa part of a homeschool association so that the association can give advice and make sure students are fulfilling the state requirements.

      Delete
    6. Michelle doesn't actually homeschool the younger children and hasn't for some time, according to their episodes. The family uses Switched on Schoolhouse (a computer program taught, computer-graded homeschooling curriculum), supplemented with IBLP's "Wisdom Booklets" for other subjects. Jessa's job was to make sure the younger children did their work prior to her getting married. Not sure if Laura, Jana, or Michelle has taken over Jessa's responsibilities. If I recall correctly, Jana was in charge of making sure the younger children practiced their instruments in between lessons.

      Delete
    7. Thank you so much, 8:26 and 9:18 for answering my questions about homeschooling. I appreciate all those who homeschool and go to considerable work to do it right.

      Delete
  16. I hope Ben and Jessa put their children in school. Clearly Ben is trying to go back in time to be part of a team and play football.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope Jessa and Ben do whatever it right for their family year by year, and that they don’t receive judgment from whatever choice they make.

      Delete
    2. clearly ben is loving mentoring kids and this is his way of doing so

      Delete
    3. What's wrong with homeschool? Ben trying to get back on a team doesn't effect their children's education. Homeschool is better.

      Delete
    4. Clearly he isn’t trying to play football again, he’s just helping as a coach. Stop judging their lives and live your own. And it’s their decision to put their kids in school, homeschool, or put them in private school. It’s not your decision, it’s not mine, and it’s no one else’s either!

      Delete
    5. I doubt they'll do that. Kids can play sports while being home schooled.

      Delete
    6. There are sports leagues for homeschool kids, too.

      Delete
    7. I agree with the comments about sports leagues for homeschool kids. In our area, you have to pay extra for sports whether you send them to a school or do school at home. So school makes absolutely no difference for sports (or arts like plays and band either).

      Delete
    8. 11:09- Whether or not homeschooling is better than any other forms of education is a matter of opinion. It depends on the child, and the homeschool or regualr school environments. There are good and bad situations in both.

      Delete
    9. As far as homeschool laws, it's different with each state. I live in NC and my children do a standardized test each year. We also do school at least 9 months out of the year. We don't play any sports yet, so don't know about teams available. But there are many teams not associated with the public school available.
      Also, we don't homeschool because we think our children are better than public school children at all. I homeschool because I believe God has giving me a calling to teach my children at home. It's something that I'll never regret.

      Delete
    10. Homeschooling is awesome, especially if you have a great curriculum and community support. My son is socializing plenty and learning many things concerning history, multiplication,Latin, Science and all at age 5. They make it fun and Interesting

      Delete
  17. Way to go, Ben! You clearly have a gifting and heart for instructing others. Coaching kids’ sports can be a great way to give a positive male role model. The Christian messaging is a solid bonus.

    ReplyDelete
  18. For those asking, Ben has played football in his younger years but never for school or for an organized team of any kind. He was homeschooled and went to college online so he never was given the opportunity to get involved in athletics at any level. This volunteering is his way of perusing his love of sports. I think he would make an excellent coach for young athletes as he has the drive, patience and fun loving attitude kids can relate to and enjoy. I hope Ben encourages his children to Persue sports if they want to play. Kids learn so much about life in general through organized sports via school, rec leagues etc

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Homeschool kids can join sports from regular schools

      Delete
    2. I live in TN and unless you go to school wether public or private, you cannot be on any sports teams unless you are part of that specific school. It would not be fair to the children attending the school to have homeschooler coming in filling there sports teams so they themselves can't play. Homeschooler can play for city leagues here but not through school leagues.

      Delete
    3. However, having experience playing a sport you love does help if you want to coach said sport!

      Delete
    4. 12:34 that really depends

      Where I live, the state athletic association says the kids must attend the school at least 1/2 a day. A couple of my friends have homeschooled kids taking some elective classes at public schools. The kids are then allowed to play sports and participate in other school activities.

      Delete
    5. Not all homeschool kids can join in public school sports-it depends on your state and school district. My state legislated that the individual school district decides. My local school district (population 30,000) prohibited homeschoolers from joining teams, even though there are roughly 700-800 families who homeschool here (with an average of 3-5 children each).

      Delete
    6. I don’t believe homeschooled kids should be allowed to join public school teams. I don’t believe they have earned that privilege. There are plenty of community teams those kids could join.

      Delete
    7. Here,only students enrolled in a school can participate in school sport teams. It has to do with liabilty. Also, schools are funded based on enrollment. It would be unfair to the school to have to included non-enrolled students in their sports teams and other extra-curriculum activities like art,music, and drama, without the funding. Also, the schools have additional requirements for student participation in these activities..academic achievement, enrollment in particular courses,class attendance,.. It would be unfair to enrolled students to make exceptions for non-enrolled students.

      Fortunately, we have excellent public schools here. There are also private schools. So, homeschooling is not common.

      Delete
    8. Who do you think funds these schools? The taxpayers do. Some of those taxpayers are homeschooling parents who are not only having to pay for the public schools but also for the curriculum and supplies of their homeschooled kids. They are actually contributing more of their money toward the education of children than non-homeschooling taxpayers. So why do they then have to "earn" the right to let their kids participate in something that others participate in at their expense?

      Delete
    9. 9:45- I don't care one way or another if homeschool kids participate in public school activities. However, I have a question- If homeschooling parents feel that the public schools are not good enough to provide an education, or are a bad influence in some way, why would they want their children to participate in any public school sponsored sports and activities?

      Delete
    10. 8:13, I don't really know the answer to that. I'm a homeschool mom who wouldn't want my kids in public school sports, actually. People homeschool for many different reasons, so some of those people may have reasons that would not rule out the possibility of sport participation.

      Delete
    11. So we homeschool for many reasons, and one prime benefit is a customized education for the student. If I choose to add in a sport at a public school, paid for with my tax dollars, why not? It’s just a part of the customization. In our state, students are required to register for at least one elective when playing sports. Our kids are all over the map with learning needs and public schools are ill equipped to serve them- I should know after both my husband and I having taught in them previously !! Homeschooling has blessed our family many times over and I’ll not regret even the moments of strife that are inevitable. Our choice does not have to yours. Perhaps we can all agree on the freedom of school choice?

      Delete
    12. 9:45, you speak as if participating in sports is free for public school kids. Quite the contrary. There are big fees involved, and not all parents can afford them.

      Delete
    13. @9:45 Everyone who owns property contributes to the school tax,including those without children and businesses. And the tax is not based on the number of children in a family. Renters do not pay property tax and a family of 2 kids pays the same tax as a family of 19! The tax also goes to maintaining the infrascture of the school,buildings that are used for other community purposes,for night courses, emergency shelters. The tax is also use to support community colleges. So, your view that non- homeschooled students are being support by homeschool students is simplicistic. The tax collected by parents does not even come close to cover the cost of educating a child. In many areas, parents are given other tax breaks to help raise their children,including lower taxes for one income families and family allowance checks.

      If parents wish to opt out of the public school system,either by homeschooling or private school, that is up to them. They cannot complain how expensive it is. It is,as if, someone buys an expensive large house and then complains his taxes are higher than his neighbor.

      A well-funded, vibrant public school system is important for the economy, safety and general well being of society. Education lowers crime rates, increases economic productivity and is critical to maintaining a democracy.

      Delete
    14. Last I saw for our public high school, if you want to play sports, you have to pay for a doctor's exam, pay for accident insurance, and pay for meals. You pay more if you want your child to be trained outside of school, like going to a camp. You'd have to pay for sports uniforms and other incidentals if it weren't for the parents in the athletic booster club. I don't know who maintains the field, and the bus for away games. Maybe that's where the tax dollars go? Or maybe some of the ticket sales are earmarked for that. But it sure isn't "free" to play sports if you go to public school!

      Delete
    15. We pay public school taxes, why shouldn't homeschool families who pay these taxes have access to sports???

      Delete
    16. @1:37..Depends on the public school system. We do not pay for any doctor's exaim. Accident insurance is covered by the school. There is no training outside of school and the school pay a for any busing. Away games are held in the late afternoons, no need to pay for meals. The students bring bagged snacks and the school provides half-time oranges. Uniforms are not expensive.

      We have no ticket sales, all games are free.
      Where does the tax money go? Easy...teacher salaries,books, computers, athletic equipment, support staff salaries, building maintamce, busing....

      Delete
  19. I'm curious as to how much involvement and participation Ben has had with this already existing organization after this segment was filmed way back one or two seasons ago? Does anyone out there know if this is something he really has stuck with OR just filmed for their TV show?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Who knows? The Duggars always show up for "photo ops" though.

      Delete
  20. Over the years I've seen that the Duggar family's role in organizing and running these kinds of programs is almost always overstated. However, I'm glad Ben wants to help in this worthwhile activity.

    ReplyDelete
  21. What is Ben's job? He seems a very nice guy

    ReplyDelete
  22. No matter what Ben and Jessa do (or don't do), there will be haters whining and complaining.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's a way to stop it then. Keep your life private. Works for most people.

      Delete
    2. When people take a stand for God and Christ, there will be persecution. It's the darkness attacking the light. I admire the Duggars for standing strong in their faith.

      Delete

Thanks for leaving your comments! We answer as many of your questions as we can, but due to the number of comments we receive daily, we are unable to answer every one. Our aim is to post all points of view, but we do not post anything that is profane, insulting, derogatory, or in poor taste.