unexpected

This weekend, our every waking hour was focused on soccer.  We were either cutting up oranges for the game, talking about logistics for getting kids to the game, washing uniforms, driving, looking for parking, waiting and cheering.  Lots of cheering.

Amelia's team was playing in a tournament.  Not only were we taking Solomon to his scheduled game but Amelia had three games and possibly the final...if her team made it to the finals.

 
I have to admit, I wasn't really looking forward to a (whole!) weekend of soccer but I  knew how excited Amelia was to play.  Her team has been practicing a lot since summer to get their skill level and stamina up to play competitively.  They have worked very hard.

Amelia has been on this same team since first grade and there was a time, that we would lose every game.  I'm not kidding.  We would lose every single game.  And after each game, I would hug my daughter and tell her, with great confidence, she played an awesome game and that's what was most important.  I wanted her to have fun playing.  She never really seemed to mind that they always lost.  Not outwardly, at least.  She was just having fun.  That's what I love about children.  They don't have all these ego-filled expectations about sports.

It helps to have a coach who, from the get-go, hasn't been focused on winning but building character in these girls.  He hasn't been the type of coach to yell at the sidelines or tear a player apart for making a mistake.  

The coach has started thinking about playing on a competitive level because we have a few girls that are really good.  Honestly, all of them contribute equally to the overall success of the team.  They all work really hard and each has developed aptitude in different positions.  But, there's a couple of girls on our team who are very talented at sending the ball into the goal.   

Regardless of whether we play competitively or not, they really do have a lot of fun, work on life skills and three days a week run their butts off.  This is what I really love about soccer.  These girls get some great exercise.

On Sunday, to make a very long story short, we found out that the team would go to the finals. 

The girls played a great game.  Each one of them played with all of their hearts. It was really hard for me to sit still while watching.  The score was tied up until the last few minutes and the anticipation was intense! 

On the sidelines, the parents talked about how guilty we felt for wanting to win.  Wasn 't it just about having fun?  There is a complexity to competition which can bring out a lot of emotion.  Oh, I'll be honest, it's all about ego!  As a group, though, we do very well with not letting our pride get in the way of good sportsmanship.  That's not to say we aren't a lively bunch of parents!

So, you might have guessed it.  They won.  Oh my gosh, they won!  It was so great to see how proud they were of themselves.  The win was very sweet for the girls and completely unexpected.  Really.

Also, check out The Slow Cooked Sentence for a video and more pictures! 

Comments

[leaningapplemama]

oh yeah...i was hoping for that *win* at the end of the post. i remember the oranges from when i was young! oh thanks for that trip down memory lane. and congratulations to your daughter...they obviously worked hard and deserved that triumph:) i really love how sweet sports are before they become so competitive. i had a rough time in high school with soccer because the egos were big and i was shy. i have very few great memories of playing my favorite sport. i hope that amelia carries these memories with her for a long while:) happy monday kyndale! xo, pennie

[nicola]

this is FABULOUS post, kyndale. neither mike nor i are into team sports, but it occurs to me we ought to be thinking about offering opportunities to the kids that include team sports. i love the sound of her coach and it sounds as though he has laid a really good foundation that teaching some competitive techniques wouldn't go to the heads of these girls in the wrong way. wonderful for amelia...congratulations.
the pride of parents is amazing, isn't it?
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com

[vanessa]

congrats!
as a wife to a soccer playing hubby (and two very competitive soccer playing SIL and FIL) I do hope that we can find the fun in the game as well as the thrill of winning every now in then- That is once my boy is of playing age, let's not get ahead of ourselves here!

[kerry]

I love this Kyndale! A great perspective for when we head into sports in the next couple of years. And oh, congratulations to Amelia...so exciting for her and her team!

[heather]

we love soccer too. yay for your daughter! that second picture is really nice.

[Heather]

We are a soccer loving family as well, and I really enjoyed this post. Glad that you had a great weekend.

[farmama]

Hooray for Amelia!....I'm glad she won! The only sport my kids play is soccer....right here on the farm. Anytime we have friends over whether they are adults or kids my boys will always get them to play a game of soccer! Very fun for sure!

[kyndale]

I love playing soccer too. Anytime I have a chance to play with the kids, watch out!!

[earthycrunchy]

She really does love soccer. I'm glad you like it too. It is a very useful sport to get involved in. But, if it becomes not fun for her, I will encourage her to find something else to do. Hope all is well with you and the family. Love, Kyndale

[twitter.com/louzilla]

Kyndale, Love the pictures and the post! The Chili Peppers rock! Amelia has a lot of heart on that field which serves her well in soccer, and it will in life. What a great day for our girls.

[earthycrunchy]

Thanks Lou, You're pretty awesome yourself!!