Soccer

Safe to say that 18 years ago I knew very little about soccer. Now, four grand daughters, several teams later, our college senior has two more games to go before it all ends. Today was the last game for the high school twin seniors. The oldest sister coached this year. Soon the whole soccer thing  will be history.

Their careers started in southern Indiana. My husband and I were living in Ohio, seven hours away but yet we were able to see a game here or there before we finally moved here ourselves. We made it to a majority of games through the years.

Five-year-olds play a different kind of soccer as they begin to learn the game. A squirrel, butterfly, or long blade of grass can distract a five-year-old even as the ball is careening toward her although in reality, balls at this level do not careen, they roll slowly to a halt. Eleven players on a team, 22 players gathered around the ball. For the first season, we called the game Bunch Ball.

When there was a throw-in girls would turn the other way as if to say, "Don't throw that thing at me." Usually it was no problem as the ball would drop out of their hands maybe a foot inside the playing field, which is called the Pitch.

All that changed with good coaching, encouragement from parents, pixie sticks. Elite travel teams gave all four of the girls an expanding view of the world. Bad coaching helped them grow backbones; wins and losses assisted in building character. Ten other girls helped them learn the principle of  teamwork. Off-season training quickly was understood to have an impact on in-season success.

I estimate that we have watched grand daughters play in 500 games over the years.Rain, snow, heat, and more than a few perfect soccer days - only lightening kept the game from being played.

They quickly became skilled at the game and have been delights to watch. Win or lose, soccer is a game that takes stamina, skill, and teamwork.

Kind of like life. They have learned the basics for being successful in this lifetime. Keep at it, learn all you can about it, and play nice with other people...or play with nice other people (there were some 'take-downs' over the years that brought some wimpy parents on other teams to their feet in protest, but only yellow cards were given).

I will miss almost everything about watching these games. Not the cold for sure (this morning it was freezing); not the losses, but the thrill of seeing the possibilities of youth on the right track. I am so proud of 'my' girls. And I will miss the hot dogs at the concession stand. They were the best.