Another Soccer Weekend

August 6-8, 2015

After some open, good, productive discussions with Calvin’s coach last weekend, we decided to double roster Calvin on two teams. It’s a great opportunity for Calvin to get more playing time, play with older boys (his grade in school) and still get to be with his current team that he loves so much.  It will be a lot of soccer but it will give Calvin an opportunity to build his confidence and get more touches on the ball. He started practicing with them last Monday, just 2 days after the Park City tournament. He told me afterwards, “Mom, it just took 5 minutes of playing and my love of soccer was back!” I was so happy to hear that because I know how much he genuinely loves the game. We have known the coach of this new team since way back to the beginning of our Harvest Hills days and Calvin knows a lot of the boys on this team too. He practiced with them Monday and Wednesday and got to play in their tournament this weekend.

This time the tournament was in Orem, so it made travel a little easier. Both Kate and Calvin played in the Utah Cup Showcase this weekend.  Kate’s team lost their first two and tied their third game. They played great, however! I think Kate probably had her best games ever! She was hustling and sprinting up and down the field and getting a lot of touches on the ball. She is sometimes a little timid and would rather someone else get the ball. This weekend, she was way more aggressive and was winning the ball often. Her new team has only 13 players so she played almost every minute of every game. And she loves that! She was totally exhausted after each game but I was so impressed with how hard she worked the whole time!

Calvin’s team played 2 games Friday and 2 games Saturday and ended up winning their age group! Calvin got to play at least 2/3 of every game and even scored a goal in the semi-final game! He was sprinting up and down the field, getting tons of action and loving every minute. When he was playing defense, he kept pushing forward and trying to get into the offense. Every free kick or corner kick, he was right there in the box trying to score and then hustling back on defense if the ball went back on our side. It was really fun to see him being so involved in the game and you could just see it on his face that he was loving every minute! There was no stress. No pressure. No fear of disappointing someone. Just pure fun! But he honestly played some of the best soccer I’ve ever seen him play. Several of his teammates from his other team were guest playing as well but they seemed to give him a fresh look and allow him to play wherever and however he was. I really feel like this is going to be a great experience for Calvin! Last weekend was a lot of heartache. This weekend felt like a triumph for him!

These journal entries might come across like I’m a sort of tiger-mom when it comes to sports. I’m really not. I do love sports and the lessons they can teach young people, but most of all I want them to enjoy playing and see how their hard work pays off. Sports is a very tangible, physical object-lesson and that’s how I learn best so I kind of assume that’s how my kids will learn best too. Maybe so. Maybe not. Either way, if you’re going to spend so many hours a week participating on a sports team, it’s way more fun when you get to play a lot in games!

My two little fans. I love how they support their siblings. Of course, the concession stand at the tournament is also motivating when you have a little wallet full of change.

Calvin and his friends doing the "Whip/NaeNae" dance after his goal. Not the Michael Jackson dance, which it almost looks like Calvin is doing. Yikes! Silly boys.