Soccer Season Kicks Off

Soccer season started Saturday! We were ready!

As was the rain.

Toughness training.

We arrived early and ran around. Each field was assigned an animal and broken into mini-fields. Each mini-field had a colored t-shirt on the goals. Shane's a Navy Blue Elephant.

There was a group introduction before practice started. A program manager asked for volunteers. Shane didn't want to go out at first, but the words "blob tag" pulled him off the sidelines later.

It was love at first "blob."

Then came practice.

Shane was thrilled to run around with his teammates before it started.

But he had trouble when structure was added.

With a lot of encouragement (and the occasional shove) Shane got with the program.

It's hard work learning to be part of a team! I worked hard to stay positive and keep Shane on the field. He's sensitive.

One warm-up the coach asked the kids to dribble their ball to him. Then he'd kick it away. They retrieve, rinse, wash, repeat, and everyone's warmed up (and practicing dribbling).

It was also merrily chaotic. Shane kicked the ball while the coach turned away. The ball overshot and Shane stood ready. When the coach didn't kick his ball, Shane's shoulders slumped. "I don't want to play anymore."

I resisted the urge to yell "Go get it! Try again!" Instead, I asked "Do you know why the coach didn't kick your ball?" Shane shook his head. "He didn't see it and it was too far away. Kick it closer and he'll kick it this time."

It worked. Shane finished the first half of practice strong. When they played blob tag, he was in heaven. If there was a professional blob tag league, he'd join. Shane would have been happy never to play soccer again.

Which was ironic, because everyone gathered to play soccer next. Drill was over, and it was game time.

The kids looked like this:

Shane looked like this:

Someone kicked the ball before he could. Shane cried and refused to run around with the other boys and girls. He doesn't do well with competition when he's not clearly winning. I made him stay on the field and attempted to boost morale ("Stay with your team!" "It's fun to run!" "Your friends need you!").  He probably thought I was torturing him.

At the end of the game, everyone lined up to shake hands. Shane.....Shane hung back.

I ran out and made him walk with me to shake a few hands ("We always show respect!").

Then Coach brought out snacks and all was right with the world. His daughter offered Shane extra.

It was good to end on a high note. Shane and I explored the park and the playground while everyone else jammed the roads.

He napped very, very well!