9 AM - Earliest game yet.
Shane's an early riser, though. It wasn't any trouble getting him to show up.
Things started out well with practice..
...and a pre-game pep talk.
Then the game started. The other team dominated. There was one kid in particular who looked a year older than everyone and played as if two years older.
Shane got frustrated after a few goals.
The other coach told his players they had to pass the ball, so that everyone touched it before they could shoot. That helped. When Shane sat out for a minute, the star player sat down for a minute, too, and the game looked a lot more even.
Shane rallied.
The other team was way better, but Shane looked much improved from previous years.
He attacked the ball.
He went on offense and even had a breakaway or two.
He didn't score, but he participated more. There was no strategy, but there was effort.
Camaraderie, too.
Shane and some of the boys wrestled, climbed fences, and rolled down a hill together after the game.
We got slaughtered at least 18-1, but we still had some fun.
Shane ran and played himself into a sweaty, grass-covered mess. He wasn't always at the ball in the game, but I was happy with his effort. He started to give up the last minute, and tried to sit out. The game ended a minute later, thankfully. The play was a great note to end the morning on.
I'm glad that we've kept at soccer. It's been a struggle at times, but perseverance breeds character.
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