Soccer Season

Soccer season is in full swing. I was leery of the time commitment; soccer definitely monopolizes the calendar. I listened to the skill demonstration presented to both players and coaches yesterday at the Academy practice and realized just how seriously they take this training at the youngest level. The goal is not to chase and kick the ball through the white posts with an opposing mob, but to learn skills for future domination of the sport in regional championships. I would have signed Gabe up for a more recreational team if I'd known my options a few months ago. Gabe showed yesterday that he can keep up with the technical skills with active, live demonstrations. He says that he is having fun despite the demanding approach to the sport, his own social insecurities and tendency to hold back. The greatest thing he can gain from this experience is to build confidence in engaging with his peers, going in aggressively with the other players after the ball, learning to participate with the team. Those were my goals for the sport. If Gabe doesn't have to be reminded to take his hands out of his pockets and stop being a spectator, it will be a success. He doesn't suffer from lack of interest in the game, just timidity. When Gabe was trying to master the skill of kicking yesterday, knee bent, ankle locked, toe out, punch with heel, follow through with step forward, his arms were flapping a bit with intensity, concentration, insecurity of something new. A coach exclaimed, "What are you doing with your arms?" and then shook them out, put them down at his sides. My maternal protective radar came out, quietly scrutinizing Gabe's face for emotional response. Poor kid didn't have his hands in his pockets! Gabe dropped his arms to his sides though, halted the peculiar behavior, kept concentrating on the kicking skills, trying to conform the movement of all his body parts to the direction. As I said before, when I asked at the close of practice if he had fun, he said , "Yes!" I choose to believe him.