The Last Soccer Game

Yesterday, Sunday, was the last game of the season. Jessica was excited that both Aunt Sheri and Grandmommy were going to be there to watch her play. Let me back up a little. This past Wednesday on the last practice they played parents against the kids. The parents were an embarrassment and lost something like 15-5. The coach kept the boys that are normally the big scorers back in defense and put all the other kids up front. He made sure every child got a goal. Let me tell you, the dad in goal had a tough time looking like such a buffoon- especially when it took some kids, like Jess, many attempts before they got one in the goal. The girls were on such a high, they each got goals, Jessica ended up getting 3 total that night. It was very fun (unless you were Justin trying to play but not understanding why you didn't always get the ball. but they even let him score one goal too and he was ecstatic). What I noticed was that in the game on Saturday many of these girls suddenly had a lot more confidence than they had been showing all season long. With Jessica it has been a struggle all season to just get her to get her foot on the ball during the game rather than just running along side whoever was dribbling the ball.

Which brings us to the final game on Sunday. When Grandmommy arrived Jessica told her she thought she was going to score a goal. Marc and I smiled and nodded. The thing is, they have been drilling it into the Jessica to go to the net. Jessica, wanting to follow the rules and not upset anyone, always runs right to the net as told. She in fact is very good at going to the net. The problem is that she doesn't really know what to do once she gets there. She hops around and when the ball gets near her she gets so excited and kicks her feet but thats about the sum total of what happens. Coach has been saying to her the past few weeks, "I can feel it Jess, you are so close, it is going to happen soon". Add to this that passing the ball is not something anyone on the team really wants to do, so being at the net is only good if the ball is passed to you. So there she is at the net. She got really close once or twice, but the other team knocked it away or she went wide. Then with less than 5 minutes in the game she has her chance again. She is AT THE NET. The ball come, we are all so excited and.... SHE SCORES A GOAL!!!!!!!! We were on our feet screaming. She was high as a kite. She turned around and ran right towards her coach. He usually stays on the sidelines and lets the other 3 coaches get on the field with the kids, but he came running onto the field to give her a double high five. I could tell he was just as excited as the rest of us. I got no pictures of any of it because I was carried away. Afterwards I asked another mother who had her camera if she got any pics and she said she didn't because she was screaming and waving her camera in the air too.

So Jessica's team ends the season undefeated. We try to tell her that is not usually what happens, but for now she says, "my team always wins". She is already talking about soccer next year and looking forward to basketball soon.

As a side note I have to say I was hesitant to sign her up for Soccer. Marc really pushed for her to play. Knowing her coordination, lack of focus, and sensitivity I just thought she was not ready for competitive sports. I was very concerned about how she would be coached, we have all heard the horror stories about agressive coaches and dads and I wasn't sure how she would do in that environment. In the end it was a great experience. Her coach was wonderful. He was very supportive and positive- all the time. He really gave her the confidence and support she needed. I truly believe he was as excited by Jessica's goal as when his own son scored a few weeks earlier. All of the dads that helped out were so nice and positive with the kids. Of course it didn't hurt that her team never lost.

Here are a few pics I did take yesterday.