Soccer Update

Well, soccer at the YMCA is certainly turning into a positive experience for Jasper.  He has a laid-back, very encouraging coach, Mr. Morris.  There is a good mix of good and clueless players on the team, and a good balance of girls and boys: Grayson, Aarya, Ethan, Jasper, Ashlyn, Sara, Anuva)   All the kids are nice!

The night before his first practice (3/19), Drew and I went to Academy after the boys were in bed (with nana and papa here) to get him shoes, shin guards and socks.  We weren’t sure which size would work.  So after breakfast we had a sports equipment try-on session. 

before he’s geared-up

after

  

The first game revealed that things can only go up for our son.  He wasn’t too keen on running around so much and repeatedly asked to sit or take a water break.  He also didn’t have a clue what to do. 

 

The night before the second game we did a mock soccer game in the living room.  We cleared all the furniture to the side and got more aggressive with Jasper and talked to him about knowing which goal he was supposed to shoot in.  Consequently (and perhaps because the game was at 9am instead of 11am), the second game was much better.  He did not ask to come out (except for a potty break), and he ran around a little more aware (stress little).  He made contact with the ball three times, too.  (contact wasn’t necessarily initiated by him, but hey! contact is contact.)  The best part is that while playing at least once and perhaps twice he called out “dad, I’m having FUN!”  You can’t ask for more than that.  Last week, Ethan’s dad told me that Ethan played last year like Jasper does this year.  He just ran around and never had a clue what was going on.  It’s a 4&5yr-old league, and from what I can tell it’s pretty much universally true that 4-yr-olds have no clue and 5-yr-olds are the ones actually playing.  It seems to work. 

 

(As an aside, it’s super cute to ask Benjamin what he’s wearing when he has this shirt on.  Hearing him say “my Yosemite National Park shirt” is fun.)

 

Today was game #3.  The Hornets were without Coach Morris, so Coach Gant had to sub in.  Drew did a great job, was super encouraging and did high-fives with each player after every goal (whether we scored or not).  They loved it!  Aarya and Ethan started asking him to lift his hand higher and higher so they could jump higher.  Jasper also KICKED THE BALL … on the run, to boot!  Baby steps, but this is great!  He loved playing and was only wanting to come out when he saw that Benjamin was on the sideline watching a movie on my phone.  oh well.  progress.  :) 

 

After the game, we ate a picnic lunch at a picnic table in front of the YMCA.  It is a lovely day.  It’s gonna get much warmer, but in the shade with the strong breeze it is really lovely.