Costa Mesa High Mustang moms suit up for football

They strapped on football helmets and laced up shoulder pads, making sure that none of the equipment got caught on their hair buns or ponytails.

The Saturday morning meet-up took place in the Costa Mesa High School gym’s team room, but it wasn’t for student athletes.

“Moms 101,” a one-day, off-field course, was intended to teach the mothers of the football players the basics of the game.

“I just wanted to walk a day in my son’s shoes,” said Tammy French, mother of varsity player Timothy French. “It was a great experience to have the coach run through some plays and teach us the hand signals. We all definitely learned how we can root for our sons the correct way.”

Around 15 women attended the class, led by head coach Glen Fisher. He joined Costa Mesa High in March but has taught the short course to moms, grandmas, aunts and guardians at other schools.

“A lot of times, parents go to games and they cheer, but they don’t really know the things their sons are doing or going through,” Fisher said. “Hopefully, they understand the game a little better after this, and it’ll make football more enjoyable for them.”

Fisher gave instruction on rules, officials’ hand signals and plays. He screened videos to explain the players’ roles.

“We learned about what each of the positions do, and I didn’t realize how much studying there actually is,” said Laurel Curet, mother of varsity senior Cameron Curet. “My son has played different positions too. I have a new appreciation for what our boys do.”

Fisher said he has never had a bad experience teaching mothers the fundamentals.

“They’re like the kids,” he said. “They pay attention, they catch on quick and they ask really good questions.”

As the course wrapped up, the coach, who previously coached at Irvine’s Beckman High School, had his newly trained charges try on some gear.

Curet wondered how her son was able to move in all of that padding.

“It’s extremely heavy,” she said. “It just shows that there’s more to football than what we see.”

Fisher demonstrated how to safely strap on the helmets and shoulder pads. Some moms donned jerseys over their padding, proudly wearing the Mustangs’ green and white.

“To understand what their sons experience, it could be as simple as trying on the gear and feeling how heavy it is,” the coach explained. “This sport is aggressive, and their boys will come home exhausted. It takes a special kid to play football.”