Falling Right into Soccer

I remember the exact moment Brian and I casually discussed enrolling Roland in soccer. Connor was doing great in it, and Roland had really shinned in the group swim lessons. Granted we promised we'd never give up "our" time with the kids to organized sports...especially at four years of age, yet there we sat over Chick-fa-le considering the growth and learning opportunities. We were enrolled less than 24 hours later. Next development, Brian's the assistant coach of the Little Grass Monkeys. What!?!


Here's Roland before his first game informing me, "Mom, soccer people don't take pictures, they play soccer."

So while we were nervous about the structure of the league, it's admittedly pretty awesome. Extremely organized and very simple, Roland practices with his team for an hour on Thursday nights - and it's fun - and has a hour game on Saturday morning - which is even more fun. I watched Evan play "amoeba ball" as I called it then, and this is actually an improvement! It helps that we have a couple ringers on the team.

Jessie and Aria watching from the hill. 

And I would have never gotten this shot of assistant coach Brian and head coach Dave. Good thing they couldn't hear Jessie and I heckling them. We're classy. 

Aria needs no excuse to parade around declaring her diva-dom.  

So we didn't give it that much thought when we signed up, but sometimes the best ideas are that way.  And granted, I started to get agitated about giving up Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings for an entire 1.25 hours...but I got over it after seeing the grin on Roland's face. The. Entire. Game. Especially when he score a goal. But he's missing this Thursday's practice to go to a concert because, come on, it's four-year-old soccer! They don't even have goalies or keep score! So, we've fallen into soccer. Now if we can keep Roland from falling 14 times a game.

Are we hooked on soccer for life? Who knows, but it's been really good for Roland, fun for us as a family and funny as hell to watch. I get to be the assistant-assistant coach when Brian is out and that is the most fun. You should see how tiny his little shin guards are! Rest assured I am trying to track down an instrumental version of "Brass Monkey" for the kids warm-up track.