Emily played soccer for the first time 18 months ago and I swore I wouldn't put her in it again because it was just so mind-numbingly boring watching a pack of kids run around the soccer field in a big clump trying to kick the ball. Well, I gave in and put her in it this fall because her best friend was playing and Emily wanted to try again. Mark is their coach and the first couple of games were just hilarious...kids standing around looking at the sky while the ball goes right through their legs, doing cartwheels, jumping on each other's backs, kicking each other shins to test out their shin guards...I think most of you know what I'm talking about. Well, after a couple of these kinds of games and getting killed by the other teams I decided to urge Emily to try a little harder, pay more attention and actually follow the ball after she kicks it.
A few games into the season, things were looking up. The team was improving a little, the kids were having fun, parents were commenting on how much better they were all doing, however, the team was still getting killed and the other teams scored more goals for us than we scored for ourselves. Mark was doing a fine job coaching but last week he was in Provo and didn't make it back in time so I reluctantly stepped in. The second I stepped onto the field my competitive side fired up and the game was on!!! I quickly figured out how to get the kids to run a "fast break" and Emily scored for the first time in her life!!! It was so exciting!!! So we did it over and over again and ended up winning the game! Everyone was so happy and it felt good. I think everyone had fun...because winning is fun. Right?
Mark was out of town again tonight and I was happy to sub. We were playing the best team in the league and their coach is a jerk. I have to admit, I spent a little bit of time today scheming about how to beat this team or at least score on them. To make a long story short, we scored a couple of times, all the kids got to kick and throw the ball in, they were completely exhausted by the end of the game, one of my parents took their kid out of the game and left, I got on the ref and the other coach for standing in the goalie box while my team was trying to score, and I nearly lost my voice. I am not meant to coach 5 and 6 year olds. So I'm super competitive...is there something wrong with that? If so, I blame my parents.
