Soccer

Faith started playing soccer this spring. It has been really amazing watching her learn how to play a team sport. I guess I sort of took for granted how it was something I had to learn. She has a new set of rules, parameters, tricks, plays, orders, etc., and it is just amazing watching her process, practice and apply all these new skills and such.

Getting on her team was - well - interesting. From the beginning we were hoping to be with her BFF, Lexi from school. We followed the process, made the request and were informed we were on the "   " {I am leaving it blank so as not to insult anyone who may know someone who is on " " team}

Well, I politely responded emailing telling this coach how we had made a request and did she know who we could talk to to ask about it. Also noting that we would be happy to play for whomever... oh yes and did we need a ball for practice? and could we expect the occasional weekday practice?

Her replay was very cold, basically letting me know this was 'not a competitive league' and 'she didn't need a ball' and 'most parents work so there won't be any weekday practices'

ugh - not a great way to start.

I mean we aren't expecting World Soccer level on our 4 year old, but um, ya, I do expect a ball to be one of the things she needs at practice...to well, ya know LEARN how to PLAY soccer - right? And practice makes sense, competitive league or not, it is about the learning experience and these kids have to learn before you let them run around on a field  - or at least we were hoping it would be like that.

Well, a few emails to the right people fixed the problem and we were added to her BFF's team...

GO BLACK WIDOWS!

Faith loves practice. In fact, so much, we had this conversation:
Faith: {pointing to the sky} Look Lexi Look!!!!
Me : Faith! Don't worry about the sky, pay attention to your coach
Faith: {still pointing} but look!! there are a million birds up there!
Me: Faith! soccer practice! listen to your coach
---all resumes to normal--
later that week, before her first game:
Me: Faith don't forget to pay attention to the ball.
Faith : I know, even if there are like a million birds in the sky, look at the ball.
Me: Yes!

Her first game was exciting. She had a good cheering section, got to call heads or tails and started. Two things stood out to me:

1) During warm-up, the coach has the girls do a lap around the field - to ahem- intimidate the other team, err, get warm... well, game 1 the girls didn't get the details say, to NOT run in front of the others team goal as they were practicing kicking the balls in... so there goes the ENTIRE team, in a slow jog looking all tough and stuff, and then one by one, they shuffle right in front of the other girls goal..love it

2) At some point in the second half, the other team started falling down a lot. And each time one of them did, they cried. Cried like they really got hurt kind of cried. So we decided their coach must have given this pep talk : "Girls, they are scoring a lot, so we got to do one thing. Cry" ;)

we won

16 to 6

Yup and we practice

2x a week

and we love it!

Here are some great pics of the day!

{After her first game}
Me : Great job today Faith! You did really good, and when you fell you got right up and kept going, that was wonderful. Good job!
Faith: Ya, the other team feel down, too.
Me: Ya, and what did they do?
Faith : They CRIED!! {then she bursts into laughter}

 - this season should be good -