Soccer Practice

It is hard to believe but Charlie is old enough to play organized sports...well...kind of.

He has been asking us for months now when he can play on a "real" team. Doesn't matter the sport. Soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball....as long as he can play on a real team, according to him.

So Adam being the wonderful and involved dad that he is...looked into HMB Parks and Rec and found a 6 week practice team.

If you know Charlie well, you know one thing: He thinks he is in charge...of the big things.

While riding with Adam to his very first practice Adam gave Charlie a little talk.

A: You know Charlie you have to listen to your coach. He is going to give you directions and drills to help you become a better soccer play and you have to listen to him.

C: I know daddy. I am not in charge, the coach is.

And every second of the 60 minute practice Charlie did just that. He listened to every word the coach said, and was often the only one listening and following directions.

We were all proud.

Yes, all of us. Me. Adam. Amy. Mama. Pa and Kate.

Good thing he is too young to be embarrassed.

You see my mom comes to everything she can, and I love it. She hardly ever misses a swim practice, which is great because the kids turn to her on the bench every time they go under water or swim to the wall. In fact this past Monday little Kate noticed that Mama and Pa were spending most of the class watching Charlie (how could you not, he is so fast and fierce in the water) and she turned to me as said "Mama not watching me!"

So here are some pictures from the sunny Saturday spent at Smith, just like 20 years ago.

All good practices start with a stretch. Charlie ate it right up, trying to master all the stretches.

After stretches and 2o minutes of drills Coach called for a break. Charlie came running up to us, asked for a sip of water and then sprinted right back to the coach. Every other kid had a snack and hung out with their families. It was apparent to us all that Charlie meant business, and the coach picked up on that too. The coach learned C's name before any other kid, and worked privately with him during the break, and then continued to smile at him throughout the rest of the practice.

proud father? I think so. Adam giggled throughout this practice.

And my parents got a kick of of things to. How could you not. Towards the end of the practice the coach divided the teams in two and attempted a toss up of the soccer ball, unfortunately it landed right on one of the little boy's head. Then while practicing dribbling and shooting, each kid (including my own) would kick and instead of going to the end of line would cut somewhere in the front-middle of the line. I am still unclear of everyone got a chance due to all the cutting. It was very entertaining.

And then there is little Kate. She always gets the short end of the stick. She wants to go to nursery school just like her bro, so we told her: Once you become potty trained you can start. We had no idea that would happen before she was 2. All morning getting ready for C's first soccer practice she never stopped talking...I play yoccer too. I kick. I run. I kick. Honestly, she can dribble the ball just as good as these 3,4, and 5 year olds. Here she is. The coach was playing red light, green light and was showing the kids how to stop the ball with their foot. Kate picked it up before most of the class. seriously.

All in all it was fun, and a good sneak peek at what's to come in the next few years. I grew up playing sports and LOVE watching my kids enjoy them too.