Little Mormon Mommy: Soccer Samuel - Little Rascal Kickers

Somewhat on a whim—we learned about the little league ONE hour before the first practice-- AJ and I decided to sign Samuel up for soccer. The very first practice was on January 30^th and we were 15 minutes late, so we missed the majority of practice time- whoops! Samuel’s first game was on February 1^st, and he played pretty well after having 10 minutes of exposure to the game of soccer . . . two days beforehand.

"That way coach!!!"

Samuel was assigned to the yellow team, and the first thing the coach went over was which way to run the ball. The coach asked heartily, “Which way are we going team?!” And all the players, except Samuel, responded-- just as enthusiastic-- “That way!!!” while pointing at the opposite goal. Samuel, however, was looking in the direction everyone was pointing with a look that said, “Why are we going that way? There are a lot of ways to go.” The coach repeated the question, and the kids repeated the answer, Samuel included in spite of his confusion. By the third time coach asked the question Samuel knew where to point although he was clueless as to why they were running that way.

In a whir the game started, and all the kids, save my dear Samuel, were after the ball! Kicking it this way, and that, all over the field, while Samuel stood- watching. Suddenly he ran over to us, and explained in his innocent way, he would play with his soccer ball because there was no way he was going to get a chance to play with that one. It was a struggle to clarify why he couldn't take his ball onto the field, because there is only supposed to be one ball. We managed to convince him to try to kick “the” ball. Then when he tried and missed he burst into tears and ran straight into Daddy’s arms. This, is NOT a fun game, because they aren't taking turns.

I guess I will try again.

It took a lot of reassuring words and plenty of hugs to urge Samuel back onto the soccer field. This time he was running after the pack of little athletes, still a slightly unsure. Right away, he got a few opportunities to kick the ball so he perked up and ran a little faster, a wee grin on his face. Until one of the blue team members scored a goal . . . Samuel BURST into tears, turned toward us and yelled, “WE LOST THE GAME!!!” (Insert water works and a lot of gentle encouraging, all the while trying not to crack into a belly laugh.) After Daddy made it clear that the whole point of the game was to kick the ball in the goal, Samuel decided it wasn't so devastating, and went back to playing.

Ok. This isn't so bad after all.

Thankfully, that was our last waterfall outburst, and Samuel enjoyed himself for the last half of the game. He kicked the ball hard into the legs of another player which made the little boy fall flat on his face. In the heat of the game, Samuel ran off without helping him up or anything- oh, kids. Children make me laugh because whatever direction they are coming at the ball, is the direction they are going to kick it. So, Samuel was kicking the ball whatever direction he was facing, without thought. Later in the game, he ran up to the ball and stopped, because if he kicked it, it would go towards his goal. Samuel could see the problem, he just didn't solve it before another player came and stole the ball.

I don't want to be the goalie anymore.

Samuel also had the chance to be the goalie for a short while. He stood back, inside the goal and watched the ball roll right by him, without so much as twitching a muscle. Next he was down inside the goal facing the backwards, so he couldn’t even see the other players or the field. Then, randomly, he decided he was done being the goalie and he took off to the other side of the field where the action was. *Giggle* AJ and I greatly enjoyed watching our little boy’s first soccer game. He is a champ!