The Last Practice (Summer)

Today was the last practice of the year. I wanted to do something special, so Carrie ordered water balloons! 

Clueless Boy (aka Shane) was inside and didn't notice me stockpiling for a war!

At the first water break, I started arming the players. 

No rules! Just chaos!

Shane said he didn't want a balloon at first and just ran around roaring.

He came by and grabbed a balloon later. He ran around threatening people with it, but one of the Sam's came up from behind and slapped it out of his hand! (Well played, Sam!).

This led to a Shane meltdown. He sat behind the goal and did a mad-sad cry. He'd gotten hit by a few balloons and hadn't managed to hit anyone himself, his only balloon had been popped, etc.

Francisco and I started the next drill and then Francisco ran it while I talked to Shane. I was a little sympathetic (he said he'd had a rough day at school), but wasn't ready to allow a pity party either ("You chose not to take a balloon in the beginning..." and "Of course people will throw balloons at you if you run around roaring like an animal! Did you think they wouldn't?")

Shane eventually hopped back in goal and practice finished well! It's been a fantastic season, but we're ending at the right time. There have been a few small frictions that have been building (like Leo and Shane) and won't have time to possibly spark! I hope that the water balloon fight will be one of those memorable childhood experiences for all the kids and they can pass the goofiness onward.