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Rising to the challenge

For these sons to shine in their chosen sport, their day must begin before dawn breaks

Clay Latimer, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 16, 2005 at midnight

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In many ways, the Shannons are a typical soccer family.

They have traveled to Utah, Hawaii, Arizona, California and throughout Colorado for tournaments.

They schedule dinners and social activities around practices and games.

Their circle of friends revolves around a field.

And they never run out of gas, even on the road, where they spend much of their time.

"It started out being more social, but then . . . ," said Karen O'Keeffe, mother of Eddy, Dennis and Jimmy Shannon.

Then, like for so many families in the 1990s, soccer became less a hobby and more a preoccupation for O'Keeffe and her husband, Dan Shannon, whose three sons play for the Colorado Rush, a national force in youth soccer.

A generation ago, only individual sports — figure skating, golf, tennis, swimming, gymnastics — required year-round training. Athletes in team sports avoided specialization. But soccer helped trigger an era of early specialization in team sports, professional coaching and elite travel teams. Making it work were time-starved parents willing to drive anywhere for the next game.

"People always say: 'You must be nuts,' " O'Keeffe said. "You get a little defensive about it. But we've found it's been a really good learning experience for all three boys.

"People question the specialization. But is it better to be a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none? It's better when you can do something you enjoy. If you try five to six sports, you're just dabbling in them.

"If you have a passion for something, it's hard to burn out."

O'Keeffe's toughest trip begins every weekday morning.

Rolling out of bed in her Park Hill home in the predawn darkness, she rounds up Dennis and Jimmy for the 45-minute drive to a Jefferson County park for a two-hour practice.

O'Keeffe then leaves for her job as a school nurse. After their morning practice, Dennis and Jimmy attend classes at a nearby charter school.

During Rush season, Karen picks up her sons after school, drops one off at practice and returns to their Park Hill home with her other son. Then it's up to Dan to pick up the remaining son at Rush practice.

"We're pretty lucky," she said. "Dan and I are able to share a lot of the driving. I work for Denver Public Schools, so I'm able to drive in the morning and he's available to pick them up in the afternoon."

A typical out-of-state tournament is work and play. A year ago on Thanksgiving weekend, the family drove to San Diego.

"We went to Hawaii. That was pretty amazing — those are really different tournaments; really (talented teams) and one game per day for seven days. The kids have to stay focused. Until they're done, it's all about soccer. It's hard for a kid to learn that and stay with it. They can't stay up late. Swimming will make them tired. They have to eat right and at the right times."