Soccer Saga Wrap-up

Well, our 8-week Pee-Wee soccer program is winding down, and it has been an interesting experience for both Kelly and mommy. The first 2 weeks, she'd be good for about 3 minutes total time on the field, which I thought was great given this was completely new to her and she had no idea what to do. But by the 3rd week, I could barely get her in her uniform and to the field, and she was having none of actually being ON the field or resembling any kind of soccer playing.

Instead, Kelly opted to collect all of the cones around the perimeter of the soccer field which indicate out of bounds. I finally got her to quit that by letting her play with ONE as long as she sat right next to it and in front of me. So, she got creative and used it as a megaphone to cheer her team on. Hey, cheerleading is a sport too!

Then she started wearing it as a "witches hat", and enrolled other teammates in her game (much to the coaches & other parent's dismay!)

However, week 5 she refused to put on the uniform and instead insisted on a dress and heels. I could not get her to change or budge from the house without an all-out screaming crying tantrum. I decided not to push it so as not to traumatize her and make the whole soccer experience a big huge negative thing in her mind.

So, here she is looking quite triumphant, playing happily at home as the clock struck 9 a.m. (her game's start time), and as I was emailing the coach our apologies for no showing.

Week 6 & 7 were much better, espcially because mommy learned from week 5 to take the uniform with us in the car and dress her while she is still strapped into her car seat in front of the field in view of the other frolicking children! Through constant coaxing from the coaches and one of the other mom's who took a liking to Kelly (and Kelly to her), she got in there for some warm-ups, drills and was in the game a couple times following the crowd up and down the field. She also did a couple kick-offs (or in her case, tap-offs...). And I was able to get her excited about staying to the end of the game so that she could get the snack and do the Koala cheer, "GO KOALAS!"

Next week is her last game...I think we're gonna make it! Here is her official soccer picture. At least she looks pretty eager, like she's ready to get out there and make goals all day, eh?

At both the start and end of the game, their Coach asks the kids, "What's the first rule of soccer?" and they all shout "to have FUN!". Overall, I think we definitely accomplished that! :-)