Although playing football and cheerleading certainly can be tiring, the physical demands of these two activities for an 11- and 9-year-old shouldn't be enough to make them habitually late for school. My guess is something else may be causing the problem.
I would first take a look at what time your children are getting to bed and exactly how many hours of sleep they are getting. Children this age should be getting at least eight hours of sleep each night, but preferably closer to 10.
If football and cheerleading practices are being held so late that they interfere with your children receiving this much sleep, then you'll need to evaluate whether or not you want them to continue these activities.
Two years ago when my younger son was 14, his ice hockey practice didn't finish until 10 at night. By the time he got home and showered, it was 11, making it difficult for him to get up at for school.
As parents, these are important decisions that have to be considered when signing our kids up for sports and other activities.
Curt Hinson
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