Big Al's Soccer Team

Today we watched Big Al's 7th grade soccer team play their first home game! I have a hard time saying they played well!! Actually, for a group of kids that have all played alot of soccer together over the years, it was pretty sad!

Little J was in charge of taking pictures... yep - I actually trusted him with my camera, a bit scary that was!

We have another home game on Wednesday... keeping my fingers crossed that they will pull things together for a better game!

No soccer this fall!

For the first time in SEVEN years - our boys are not playing in our local rec soccer league. If you really want to learn more about it, go back to other soccer posts! Little J had a horrible coach and horrible season last fall! After that, I said "no more"...During the summer, when all the sign up information came, Little J was a little upset, and begged a few times, but then he never mentioned it again!

I am really glad! I really did enjoy watching the kids compete - but sometimes a break is a really good thing.

Big Al has already started playing soccer on the 7th grade middle school team and really enjoys it! It is nice that games are weekday afternoons.. so weeknights and weekends are FREE!

Saturday Stuff

Today was, thankfully, the last soccer game for both boys this season!

I managed to get a few pictures, not many.. but a few! When they get to this age - it's more running and less standing around!

Thoughts for today....

Tomorrow is our very last day of soccer for this season! Usually, we really enjoy soccer season.. unfortunately, this year has been far from fun! Big Al has had a great year... despite being the smallest kid in the age division... see picture below... Big Al is in navy! The other two kids are of average - maybe a little smaller than average and the same age! Big Al has had to work even harder this year to keep up with those with longer legs... haha! Regardless.. he works hard and has enjoyed this year! Hopefully, he can play soccer in middle school next year!
Above is Little J... unfortunately, this picture shows what has happened most this season... he is not on the field. He is warming up here before the game.... This season will most likely be his last (keeping fingers crossed!). Little J is a great player and is fffffaaaassstttt... he really hustles on the field and plays hard. Unfortunately, he has a coach that feels Little J should spend more than half the season on the sidelines. It has been really discouraging to him and it has decreased his confidence when he does get to play - as the coach is not what I would call.... encouraging! We had hoped that he would get his team pictures last weekend, and we would have just called the season over... but, apparently, he will get them tomorrow.... For those who know me... this has been really hard on me to watch Little J be treated un-equally. And of course, I have managed to write a "constructive criticism" letter to the league and also an email to the coach regarding things... of course both have gone unanswered... oh well....
In my mind - I'm just reminding myself that somewhere along the way - the treatment will be returned to the coach..... I am soooooo not trying to be vengeful! haha!

A new season of soccer

September brings yet another year of soccer! This year, Big Al is on a U13 team, and as you can see by the picture above, is still the smallest kid out there!

Big Al just did a throw in... sad - but I have hardly taken any pictures this year!

Little J is on the U11 team this year - and plays full teams on the large field... quite an adjustment!

Hopefully - I can get some better pictures soon!

Soccer Stars!

Little J with his coach
Big A with his coach

Last week - both boys got to go to the UK International Soccer Day Camp! The camp was run by soccer coaches/players from the UK! Both boys had a blast and really enjoyed playing with friends and learning new soccer "skills"! It was a nice break from summer school... for all three of us!

On Friday, which was the last day of camp, they had an awards ceremony - which I was able to come and watch... which was a really good thing - or I would have missed out! Each coach chooses an MVP from their group and tells everyone WHY they picked this player. Since Big A was in the oldest group - his coach went first. He was telling the crowd all the great things about the MVP he chose... this player was energetic, helpful, extremely willing to learn, fun to be around, and a good listener! I was then a little flabbergasted when he handed the award (MVP shirt) to my Big A! Shocking! Ok, not overly shocking - as Big A is "most" of the things he mentioned, with the exception of a good listener! I was really surprised - as there were LOTS of kids at this camp - and LOTS of really talented kids! It was a nice award - Big A was really proud (and a little surprised!).

Little J's group was next... and I was too busy chatting with my pal, Jessie (a fellow Vegas-er) about how surprised I was, etc... that I totally missed the first part of the next speech.... The coach was talking about HIS MVP choice... who was kind, encouraging to other players, helpful, funny, easy going, a great team player, had a great attitude, cared about others.... then he handed the award shirt to LITTLE J! Again - SHOCKING!

I had to laugh at the end - as Jessie and I were talking about all the "things" I had to do to make sure that the boys actually did get to go to camp each day... since this was a privilege not a right... they had to earn it daily with good behavior - no lying - no back talk and following directions! Little J surprised me with how GOOD he was all week. Big A had a bit of a struggle and only missed one day... but it actually made my life easier for the week! Now... I should have thought about it sooner and signed them up for more camps! haha!

Oh well... I'll have to remember this for next year!

Amy