It's Not Like the Backyard

We decided Warren was at a good age to try an organized team sport.  So, we registered him for Itty Bitty Soccer at the YMCA.  Last night was our first night.  Let me just say that it reminded me of the adorable Publix commercial, where the little boy is playing in a soccer game, while the mom and dad are watching.  He watches balls go blazing by, as he concentrates on the shapes in the sky.  The dad is just utterly frustrated and says "Boy, it's not like the backyard, is it?"

Well, no it is not.  Up until last night, Warren had been very excited about playing soccer.  He was excited when he found out he got to wear shin guards; he was excited when he found out he was on the yellow team; he was excited when he found out he should wear his "fast shorts"....he was not excited to play!  After we realized Chris would not be able to make it, because he would be taking Harper to the doctor to check for croupe, we loaded Warren up in the car, crying.  I convinced him that he didn't have to play, we would just go watch.  After a little persuasion, he reluctantly went out and started kicking the ball around, until it was time to get started.  Then, every time he was not handling the ball, he was on the sideline giving me a hug and a kiss.  For 45 minutes, the children worked through different centers with drill-like activities, where they were asked to "shoot" and "dribble" and "pass."  Well, while Warren has kicked a soccer ball many times, he was not familiar with that vocabulary.  So, when the ball was kicked to him, he picked it up and ran it to the coach, who kindly said "Oh, thanks buddy, but this is soccer.  We've gotta use our feet."  In the "dribble" activity, one little boy picked the ball up and started dribbling, like a basketball.  Again the coach said "Good job, buddy, but this is soccer.  Dribbling is with your feet."  So, with that the boy picked the ball up and started jumping on it, trying to dribble it like a basketball, but with his foot.  (You can catch a glimpse of Warren's participating in the video....when you see him swinging his arms around...imagine that for the next 3 minutes after the video ends.)

And while that was all very cute, the not so cute part was the parents.  I was utterly shocked by the competitiveness of the parents.  I was surrounded by parents yelling...to their 4 year old...."Come on, T, get your head in the game!"  or "Emory, keep your eye on the ball, now, focus on the game!"  Really?  These are 4 year olds.  What happened to just kicking the ball and running??

Needlesstosay, Warren didn't have a super great time...partly because he missed participating in half of the activities because he was too busy giving me hugs and kisses.  But, we are going to go back and try it again next week.  We're not quitters.  Maybe we just need to "get our head in the game?"