Soccer

Our first venture into the child sporting world: Noah played U5 soccer in our city league. 

And the lucky guy even got to have his mom be his first coach.  If you know me well, you may think that is funny, because I don't have many athletic abilities and actually I have never played a game of soccer before. In our family, Kyle is the coach, not me.  But he gave me some good tips and it was a pretty low pressure atmosphere.  And so Noah, with coach for a mom and Kyle Campbell for a dad went into the season with a few expectations and lots of support.  The First Campbell Participant on an Organized Athletic Team!  How did Noah carry the weight of such an awesome responsibility?  See the pictures for a summary:  

He spent much of the games on the ground or in my arms or trudging begrudgingly across the field. What was the problem?  I'm still not really sure.   Maybe he didn't like trying to keep up with the other kids.  And that he just wanted to kick the ball and didn't like when other kids kicked it away from him.  Or that he was just too tired and didn't care enough about the whole thing to put forth much effort.  But having an  awesome coach (ha) and the world's greatest soccer dad must have got to him :) because by the end of the season, Noah actually ran around the field a bit and kicked the ball at a few different times.  At one of our last games, he even got control of the ball and started running with it towards the goal. The look on his face was PRICELESS.  He was shocked and nervous and proud and giddy all at once, and I was so incredibly happy for him and I remember cheering "Yay Noah!  Go Noah!  Take it to the goal!" and other coach/mommy-like things.  BUT, then some kid on the other team came along and stole the ball, and ohhhhh the look on Noah's face was just heartbreaking.  He looked at me and then that sweet little happy face completely crumpled and his eyes started watering.  Like the saddest moment I have had for my kids to date (does that sound silly?  you had to have seen it! beyond disappointment.  aghh It kind of makes me want to cry just thinking about it).   If a stolen ball on the soccer field can bring a mother such angst, I can't imagine the feelings that will come with the deeper disappointments in a child's life.

But thanks to soccer for teaching us many good life lessons.  Sports are so good for kids.  and parents.  I am happy Noah played this year.  As hard as it got during game time, on the car rides home he always gushed about how much fun he was having and how much he loved soccer.  So that is it until next year.  We'll see how Noah feels about it then. Go Blue Sharks!