About Tobin Walsh
My life is a case study in the trials and tribulations of being a Good-Bad Dad (GBD). I share my experiences as a father of five children with the hope that my authenticity might help you make sense of your own fast-break life.
I am the ultimate GBD, and I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you on the mission to raise top-notch kids. I’ll be here for you in the tireless and thankless journey that we call fatherhood.
If you’d like to see more of my work, please check-in frequently or contact me using the details below.
email: thegoodbaddad@yahoo.com
follow me on Twitter: @thegoodbaddad
catch up with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/goodbaddad/
Tobin Walsh Bio:
Tobin was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, IA. He is the second of four boys raised by two teachers.
He now lives in Palm Harbor, Florida with his wife, Aimee, and their five children (Yosef – age 17, Lynden – age 15, Viviana – age 14, Everett – age 10 and Emersyn – age 7).
Tobin’s rambunctious family life provides ample opportunities for thoughtful pieces about fatherhood, adoption, sports and parenthood.
Listed as one of the “Top 50 Dad Bloggers” by The BabySpot.ca, Tobin’s work has been featured by The Washington Post, Fatherly, Disney’s Babble, Scary Mommy, MOJO Sports, and Rainbowkids.com.
Walsh Family (2021)
Hi Mr. Walsh!
I think your blog is awesome! I am currently blogging about my first career in radio and television, which I hope to turn into a book. Now I teach ESL at a middle school in Fitchburg, MA. I am writing you about your piece on everybody making the basketball team at Roosevelt Middle School in 1991. May I ask where that school is?
One of my students is writing a persuasive essay which maintains that all soccer players who try out should make the team. He really liked the model at Roosevelt, with an “A team”, “B team”, and “C team”. We just wanted a little more information to put the story into context.
Thank you very much, and keep doing what you do! (I am a dad to 10 year-old girl-boy twins, by the way.)
Sincerely,
Stephen
Stephen,
Thanks for reaching out and reading. I grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (that is where Roosevelt Middle is). Every school in the area where I was born and raised operated this way – whomever wanted to play, was welcomed no matter their playing ability. As I said in the piece, this was a life-line to the kids that could not afford the high price of privatized sports. If your student needs help, please let me know. The Aspen Institute is another organization that advocates to a return to this style of play for kids. To me, this is a HUGE issue for kids and parents – one that we can (IMO) easily solve.
Thanks for being a teacher – you guys are Super Heroes. Best of luck with the twins!!!:)
Best,
Toby
Hi Toby,
Thanks so much for your kind and informative words. I thought you might like to see the (almost) finished essay that my student wrote. He is an 8th grade English Language Learner from Haiti.
Enjoy!
Stephen
p.s. My twins just turned 11 over Spring vacation. What an insane week of celebration!
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If everyone tried out for the soccer team, who would make the team? Everyone who tries out for soccer should make the team. It would be better for the morale of all the players.
At Roosevelt Middle School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1991, all kids played on the basketball team, but at three skill levels. (Tobin Walsh, “Let Them Play – All Kids Should Be on the Team in Middle School Sports” 2018, http://goodbaddad.com/?p=3505 ) This example is the best way to run a soccer program as well.
Coaches might think allowing everyone on the team is too much work. If we have 3 teams with different skill levels, each team will have a coach, so the work is shared among the coaches.
In conclusion, it is clear that everyone who tries out for soccer should make the team. I will play on the “A” team, and score three goals in a game, just like I did in Haiti.
I love this!!! I appreciate you sharing. I have no doubt that your student will be the star of the “A” team and score goals like Messi and Ronaldo!:)
Teaching is hard work – as with parenting. Those that can do it, are saints on both fronts in my book.
Thank you for following along. This note truly made my day/week! Happy Birthday to your twins!!!
Best,
Toby