Fall Soccer Ends

Today was John's final soccer game of the fall season and the first game I was able to attend.

Praying before the game, a YMCA tradition

The players all giving each other high-fives after the game

Staying warm in 40-degree weather

Staying warm in 40-degree weather

Post-game snack

Every child received a trophy after the final game. While, as a mature adult, I think this generation's practice of rewarding all participation is nonsense, as a mother, it warmed my heart to see John's excitement. Coach H. did a wonderful job of calling up each child by name and praising them for something very specific that child learned this season--for one child, learning to kick with his left foot, for another child, learning how to defend his position, for another child, always having a smile on his face.

John receiving a trophy

First Soccer Game

This morning was a big event in our household: John is on his first ever sports team and played his first official soccer game, with uniform and all.

Go "Team Domination!"

(The boys were choosing between four names they came up with, the others being the Tigers, Bears, and Dragons. The one name John did not want was Domination because, as we agreed with him, it sounds kind of harsh and mean, plus it's a darned foolish name to have when the team inevitably loses a game. But the vote won the day.)