It's that time of year again... soccer! I actually think it's the perfect spectator sport and I love going to the short Saturday games. Tragically this year we're realizing why people have fewer kids. Ethan and Isaac both have games each week and somehow their game times overlap every single Saturday except this first one and then just one other Saturday the entire 2 month season. So I got to see Isaac's game this morning and watch Taylor coach. And then we jetted off to Ethan's game. And then every other Saturday I'll only get to see Ethan (and drag Isla and Miles along since Taylor can't watch them while he coaches/refs Isaac's games). Sad!
But fun to see the first one at least. Taylor is a hilarious coach. He is VERY into it. He has all these ideas he's collected from watching other coaches the past 2 years while he's been Ethan's coach and he's determined to do it right this time. He has tons of funny drills like he chases the kids around with squirt guns to get them to sprint, he yells "egg hunt" when it's clean up time and all the kids run and grab balls like they're doing an Easter egg hunt (this works with 4 year olds- Ethan's age would just give you a weird look) and in this picture they're running with high knees (kicking their own butts). The best part as a parent spectator is seeing their continuous smiles and listening to their laughter. That's all I want for Isaac out of this soccer year- just to have fun!
They chose the name "Tigers" so they do several cheers. Tigers roar (of course). Tigers squeak (followed by 4 year olds dieing of laughter). Tigers meow (more laughter). And Tigers woof (by now they're rolling on the ground).
Isla enjoys the games like this. I try to find any inch of shade I can (even if it's created by my shadow) and then she gets held/fed/handed a toy to chew on.
Get a look at the size of this field cause you're about to see the difference when I show you Ethan's pictures. Isaac's field is literally 1/4 of Ethan's.
And this is how the 4 year old play- all together, all kicking for the ball, even if your own teammate already has it covered. So funny to watch.
Oh and here's a bit of a breakaway. If you look right behind the ball you'll see a somewhat large arrow. This was Taylor's idea he stole from another coach. The parents bring cardboard signs with big arrows on them. They hold them up to remind the kids which way they should be kicking. It worked great and even messed up the other team's kids a few times :)
Ethan and Miles off playing soccer together on the sidelines. Seriously love seeing them enjoying being together.
Another new idea Taylor instituted was the tunnel of ?????. He tells the parents they're all required to participate so as soon as the game ends all the parents jump up and form a tunnel and then the kids all run through it- hopefully all one direction so there are no head on collisions. The kids LOVE IT and he tells me that since the first games, the other teams parents have been joining so it becomes a big celebration for all the kids and not just his own team. What good sportsmanship!
And of course the best part of the game: treats afterwards!
On to Ethan's game the same day. There he is WAY over there. I love that he's so excited about the game that he's standing watching the others play. Too excited to even sit down and watch.
Truthfully this is a whole new world for Ethan. He's playing a year up the other teams are always a full year older than him plus he's a late spring birthday so some are almost 2 years older.
He's truthfully not the star on the team but he goes after the ball and has some great skills. His drag back is first class. He dutifully does what his coach tells him even to a fault sometimes (what can we say he's a first child and very obedient). Coach says pass- he passes- even if he could just take it and go with it. And he's happy not to be the star- just happy to be on a team and playing with friends.
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