Out-of-control Soccer Mom Posting

Spring 2009 soccer started this past weekend. Addie has moved up into the U-10 division, which means direct kicks, offsides calls, a size 4 ball, and 2 more players on the field during games. This season will be interesting because we have 3 official coaches, 1 helper, and a stand-in coach - so many that I spent the first game on the parent's side of the field, which was fine with me because I am actually able to watch Addie and take pictures!


Before going on with this post I want to say that all of the girls on the team work really hard, and they played a great game. We won 2-0, which is never a bad way to start the season, and the first goal was made by a 3rd grader who hasn't played since she was 4 (and does that even count?!)

That being said, I honestly just want to brag about my daughter...

Addie's abilities on the field continue to amaze me. Practicing on her own whenever she can (which includes inside the house whenever I am not paying attention), team practices continue to be somewhat a challenge because she gets so upset when she can't do something perfectly (the first time). It has been this way since she started 4 years ago, and I cannot figure out how to stop her from being so hard on herself. While she would much rather be up front going for the score, she continues to prove that her skills in the goal can't be beat. She ended up playing in the goal the entire game this Saturday, and although I quit counting because every ball shooting toward her is heart stopping for me, had at least 8 saves. And she doesn't simply stand there waiting for the balls to come to her - she is out of the box, going after them. At the beginning of each quarter she asked to be put up front, but when Coach Mark or Claudette asked her to stay in the goal, she squared her shoulders, put her gloves back on, and ran back onto the field.

After each game Coach Mark has the team sit in a circle and gives feedback. Then he has the girls take turns - each one offering a kudos to another player on the team. While it was probably because they had never done this, and the first girl who went said it, but about 8 of the girls said that Addie did a great job in the goal. I was so proud of her because not only was she gracious when she received these compliments, but when it was her turn, she asked Mark if she could do something different, and said that the whole team had done a good job with teamwork. After the circle had broken up Coach Claudette asked Addie if she had any idea how good she was in goal, and Addie's response was a quick shrug of her shoulders before saying, "Nah, I just do what you guys tell me to do."

I know that I am not chasing balls for the next Mia Hamm as she practices her drop-kicks, but it is so much fun to watch Addie do something that she really enjoys, and excels in. I continue to try to steer her to other activities in addition to soccer, because I don't want her to burn out, but for now it is all she wants to do. Who knows what uniforms she may be wearing in the near and not-so-near future!