Soccer Mom

So Peter missed his first week of soccer practice due to our California visit.  He has never played soccer.  He has never been on an organized team.  He missed two practices and showed up to the game.

He was welcomed by a boy shouting at him, "If you don't go to practice, you can't play in the game!"  Yes, thank you.

Peter held down the sidelines for the first kick off.  But Coach put him in as a defender (what I know as 'fullback') for the second half.

He was so cute.  Huge grin.  Tugging his shirt.  Looking around to see what his nearby teammates were doing.

Then there was a third half.  Truly.  They were calling them quarters, but what's a game broken up into thirds called?  I don't know.

Coach wanted to see Peter's natural soccer finesse shine, so he put him in as center forward for the third quarter.  So cute.  Running all over.  Did I mention the HUGE grin?  He loved it.  Watch this...

Paul - What did you think of the game?

Peter - It was flying fun!!

See?

So today we start the practice regiment.  Two-hour practices, twice a week.  Does that seem a bit much for third and fourth graders?  That seems long to me.

We had the coach and his family over for dinner a couple weeks ago, because firstly, they are friends of ours.  As we supped, Coach asked me if I wanted to help with the team.  I said sure.  And some how it came about that I played soccer two years in college.

This always humbles me.  I don't think we ever won a game.  I do remember the first time we scored.  That was exciting.  (I went to a small private college, see.  Where sports were not so strongly emphasized, nor recruited for.)  But it was a great time in the California sun.

So call me Assistant Coach if you like.  That'd be great.

But really, I'm just getting used to this Soccer Mom thing.  (We forgot to bring water to the game for him.  Oops.)

Hey, do I get a bumper sticker or something?

Yeah.  Like that.