It's playoffs weekend, so we had a Souper bowl kick off- a soup potluck/tasting party. Everyone got to sample several kinds of soup while yelling at the little men on the TV.
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Monday, February 7, 2022
Olympics
February 7, 2022
The Winter Olympics are happening in Bejing right now. Believe it or not, I haven't watched a minute of it. It's not that I'm not interested; I have watched figure skating in particular for many years, as well as speed skating, skiing, and even curling (though I never really got the thrill of that one in particular). However, this year I am pretty divested. Maybe it's because the pandemic turned my priorities elsewhere, perhaps it's because I don't really recognize many of the competitors this year, or even because the games are fraught with political strife. But really, I think it might be because I am used to watching them with someone, getting invested in the hype and excitement with another. It's not that I was only interested because someone else was, but that it was something we did together and enjoyed. Watching alone simply doesn't have the same appeal. (Rest assured, however, that swimming and gymnastics during the summer Olympics will never be sidelined. Y'all, those events are in a class all by themselves and are not subject to any other outside influences.)
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Sharpshooter
January 24. 2013
Long before Katness Everdeen made her mark on the literary world or stood up on screen to volunteer as tribute, Danielle has been asking us to sign her up for archery lessons. I'm not really sure where the interest initially came from, but Danielle is nothing if not persistent. Once she gets ahold of an idea, she wants to see it through. However, when she first asked five or six years ago, I was quite reluctant. I wasn't convinced that with the impulsivity number two and kid number three sometimes exhibited that I might suddenly find myself with one of them in the emergency room watching a doctor extricate an arrow from one of my kids' bodies. Not that I thought anyone would intentionally shoot an arrow through their sibling; they just weren't always well-known for attention to detail and watching their surroundings when they were younger.
So now we're several years past her initial request, and it hasn't dimmed for her at all. In the meantime, both of the kids have matured and grown up, so I'm not quite so fearful of accidental 'spearings'. We decided this Christmas would be the perfect time to get Danielle the gift of lessons. We got her a gift certificate to Impact Archery, which is run by a professional archer. He apparently has trained and taught several actors to shoot for various movies. He's a little gruff--a 'man's man', I suppose, but he clearly knows his sport.
Doug took Danielle for her first lesson today, and she absolutely loved it. Within minutes she had settled into a rhythm and stance, and Doug even overheard another patron say she looked like a real natural. He got a few pictures of her as she was shooting, and for a first time out, her aim was pretty impressive. She's very excited to continue on with her lessons. If she really takes to it, we'll soon get her her own bow and arrows and set up an archery lane in the back yard.
Long before Katness Everdeen made her mark on the literary world or stood up on screen to volunteer as tribute, Danielle has been asking us to sign her up for archery lessons. I'm not really sure where the interest initially came from, but Danielle is nothing if not persistent. Once she gets ahold of an idea, she wants to see it through. However, when she first asked five or six years ago, I was quite reluctant. I wasn't convinced that with the impulsivity number two and kid number three sometimes exhibited that I might suddenly find myself with one of them in the emergency room watching a doctor extricate an arrow from one of my kids' bodies. Not that I thought anyone would intentionally shoot an arrow through their sibling; they just weren't always well-known for attention to detail and watching their surroundings when they were younger.
So now we're several years past her initial request, and it hasn't dimmed for her at all. In the meantime, both of the kids have matured and grown up, so I'm not quite so fearful of accidental 'spearings'. We decided this Christmas would be the perfect time to get Danielle the gift of lessons. We got her a gift certificate to Impact Archery, which is run by a professional archer. He apparently has trained and taught several actors to shoot for various movies. He's a little gruff--a 'man's man', I suppose, but he clearly knows his sport.
Doug took Danielle for her first lesson today, and she absolutely loved it. Within minutes she had settled into a rhythm and stance, and Doug even overheard another patron say she looked like a real natural. He got a few pictures of her as she was shooting, and for a first time out, her aim was pretty impressive. She's very excited to continue on with her lessons. If she really takes to it, we'll soon get her her own bow and arrows and set up an archery lane in the back yard.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Love My Devin!
October 20, 2012
I just love that I'm so close to my sister and my nieces. They're just up the road, really--five hours is not such a long distance. And with Facebook and texting, I get to be there even when I'm not there, and share in happy moments of my nieces' life. Here's Devin celebrating after a victorious soccer game:
I just love that I'm so close to my sister and my nieces. They're just up the road, really--five hours is not such a long distance. And with Facebook and texting, I get to be there even when I'm not there, and share in happy moments of my nieces' life. Here's Devin celebrating after a victorious soccer game:
Friday, May 25, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Badminton, Anyone?
May 3, 2012
A couple of weeks ago, Danielle finished up her track season, and I thought we'd be done with after school practices for the year. Almost immediately, though, she came home and asked if she could join the badminton team, which was just starting up. I had no idea the school even HAD a badminton team. As it turns out, the junior high team is nearly a hundred members strong. Who knew?
Danielle has been saying for years that she wanted to take up tennis, but since tennis season coincides with soccer season, it's pretty much out for her. I figure badminton bears a reasonable resemblance to the sport, and it works out, season-wise. Today she had her first match. Here she is with several of her teammates and friends.
A couple of weeks ago, Danielle finished up her track season, and I thought we'd be done with after school practices for the year. Almost immediately, though, she came home and asked if she could join the badminton team, which was just starting up. I had no idea the school even HAD a badminton team. As it turns out, the junior high team is nearly a hundred members strong. Who knew?
Danielle has been saying for years that she wanted to take up tennis, but since tennis season coincides with soccer season, it's pretty much out for her. I figure badminton bears a reasonable resemblance to the sport, and it works out, season-wise. Today she had her first match. Here she is with several of her teammates and friends.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Danielle at Discus
March 9, 2012
Last week I got pictures of Danielle doing shot put; this week we got some shots of the discus. (These are the two I got before she turned around and said, "Don't take pictures while I'm throwing, Mom!") I'm so proud of her for being so willing and eager to get out and try new things. At this meet, she hit a personal record and ended up placing third overall.
Last week I got pictures of Danielle doing shot put; this week we got some shots of the discus. (These are the two I got before she turned around and said, "Don't take pictures while I'm throwing, Mom!") I'm so proud of her for being so willing and eager to get out and try new things. At this meet, she hit a personal record and ended up placing third overall.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Staff Vs. Student Basketball Game
February 27, 2012
The teacher-cheerleaders went old-school style with jerseys and sweatbands. How cool are we? It should be noted, of course, that the teachers won, once again proving that the young pups don't have all the moves. I'm quite sure that the teachers won because of the spirited support of their cheerleaders AKA us. Naturally.
After the game, one of my students who participated in the game told me he wanted to see me take a shot. Mind you, I haven't played basketball in oh, say, thirty years. And I haven't played basketball well in oh, say, never. But goaded into it by my student, I agreed to try. I told him it wouldn't be pretty, and it wasn't. I didn't hit anything close to the net. Or the backboard. Or the pole. He smiled and said to give it one more shot, although I figured the odds were good it would be a repeat of my first performance. I moved up just a bit closer, eyed the target, and let it go. SWISH! Dropped it in beautifully! I high-fived my student and walked away. Believe me, I know how to quit when I'm ahead. Yup--the young pups are not the only ones with the moves.
Nancy, Jen, Kristen, Mo, Tina, Victory, and me.
Victory, me, and Mo
The teacher-cheerleaders went old-school style with jerseys and sweatbands. How cool are we? It should be noted, of course, that the teachers won, once again proving that the young pups don't have all the moves. I'm quite sure that the teachers won because of the spirited support of their cheerleaders AKA us. Naturally.
After the game, one of my students who participated in the game told me he wanted to see me take a shot. Mind you, I haven't played basketball in oh, say, thirty years. And I haven't played basketball well in oh, say, never. But goaded into it by my student, I agreed to try. I told him it wouldn't be pretty, and it wasn't. I didn't hit anything close to the net. Or the backboard. Or the pole. He smiled and said to give it one more shot, although I figured the odds were good it would be a repeat of my first performance. I moved up just a bit closer, eyed the target, and let it go. SWISH! Dropped it in beautifully! I high-fived my student and walked away. Believe me, I know how to quit when I'm ahead. Yup--the young pups are not the only ones with the moves.
Nancy, Jen, Kristen, Mo, Tina, Victory, and me.
Victory, me, and Mo
Monday, February 6, 2012
Cracking the System--How Do I Know Who to Root For in Football?
February 6, 2012
Now that the Super Bowl is over for the year, I can let you in on a little secret: I do not follow football. Not even a little bit. Shocked? Yeah, I thought so.
Nevertheless, I can sit an watch a game with my hubby or our friends and root for the team of my choice, and actually have a good time doing so, whether it's the Super Bowl or one of the lesser match ups. Now, most sexist folks might say the under-informed female half of the species is most inclined to choose sides based on the rather predictable and mundane 'prettiest uniform' factor, at which I take offense.
My decision on who to root for in any given match up is multi-tiered, multi-faceted. It's a complex system that goes into deciding which team to cheer for if you haven't a clue who's out on the field. There are four major levels of decision-making input:
1. First of all, I determine if either team suited up on the field represents a bird. I have no use for birds. If you play for the Ravens or the Eagles, for example, your team is automatically out, and I'm rooting for the other team.
2. If neither team is a bird team (or if they both are), then I go to Tier Two. In Tier Two, I look at the mascots as well, and determine if one has a more favorable impression on me. Let's say for example The Bears are playing the Steelers. Bears win, because, you know, Bears are just more charming than a Steeler is. Yes, I know bears can be ferocious creatures; I'm not thinking of the mean ones. I'm thinking of Winnie the Pooh. I'm sure The Bears won't mind the comparison if it means they've got one more fan in the virtual stands. If the Vikings are playing, I have a hard time rooting for them (unless they're playing a bird team, of course), because Vikings are dirty--historically speaking. Some of the other ruffian teams also fall by the wayside due to my OCD about clean hands and clean faces. Yes, I know the current and modern Vikings et.al. probably shower regularly and clean up nicely, but my mental image of a Viking is Erik the Red, and that's simply not doing them any favors in the me-choosing-a-team department. On the other hand, if a team like The Chargers is playing, odds are in their favor. I like the spirit in a name like that, you know? There's something hopeful and optimistic about those who by name are compelled to move forward against the odds. However, if both teams are birds, I only briefly consider this question, because as I said, I've got no use for birds. This tier, like the first tier, is a draw for those two teams, as no bird is better than another. So we move to the next tier of decision-making.
3. If both teams are bird teams, and therefore at a draw, or if the mascots are equally awesome--say, The Bengals and The Lions--we move to Tier Three. Decision-making at Tier Three simply comes down to "Have I ever heard of the quarterback?" Not do I like him, not what are his stats, but have I heard the dude's name. Because, after all, if I've heard of him, he's probably pretty good, right? Unless I happen to know of his name because of particularly unsavory acts (think Michael Vick), in which case the team automatically falls into the 'there's no way I'm rooting for that guy' category. If say, a Manning is playing against Blah-dey Blah, then there will be no love for Mr. Blah. Score one (or seven) for Manning. If I've heard of them both, there may or may not be a sub-category of the tier that takes into account how pretty their eyes are or how articulate they are when speaking into a mic, but I'm not copping to that one. (It's in the fine print.)
4. Finally, all other things being equal--no bird to knock a team out of contention, equally majestic (or equally mundane, as the case may be) mascots, and equally known (and pretty) or equally anonymous quarterbacks--we come down to the final tier. Tier Four is the tie-breaker, the coin toss, the overtime final decision. Tier Four's final chance for a team to win me as their cheerleader for the day comes down to: color. (Mind you, this may change, depending on whether the team is playing in their home or their away uniforms.) Yes, yes, lots of folks choose a team by which jerseys look prettier out in the stadium against the backdrop of a verdant field, but that's too easy, too thoughtless. We only move to the color of the jerseys if all other factors yield no clear victor. After all, if those boys in blue (the team I'm cheering for against the boys in orange) are going to give it their all on the field, I figure I should put a little time and effort into deciding who is worthy of my loyalty--for the day, anyway.
Now that the Super Bowl is over for the year, I can let you in on a little secret: I do not follow football. Not even a little bit. Shocked? Yeah, I thought so.
Nevertheless, I can sit an watch a game with my hubby or our friends and root for the team of my choice, and actually have a good time doing so, whether it's the Super Bowl or one of the lesser match ups. Now, most sexist folks might say the under-informed female half of the species is most inclined to choose sides based on the rather predictable and mundane 'prettiest uniform' factor, at which I take offense.
My decision on who to root for in any given match up is multi-tiered, multi-faceted. It's a complex system that goes into deciding which team to cheer for if you haven't a clue who's out on the field. There are four major levels of decision-making input:
1. First of all, I determine if either team suited up on the field represents a bird. I have no use for birds. If you play for the Ravens or the Eagles, for example, your team is automatically out, and I'm rooting for the other team.
2. If neither team is a bird team (or if they both are), then I go to Tier Two. In Tier Two, I look at the mascots as well, and determine if one has a more favorable impression on me. Let's say for example The Bears are playing the Steelers. Bears win, because, you know, Bears are just more charming than a Steeler is. Yes, I know bears can be ferocious creatures; I'm not thinking of the mean ones. I'm thinking of Winnie the Pooh. I'm sure The Bears won't mind the comparison if it means they've got one more fan in the virtual stands. If the Vikings are playing, I have a hard time rooting for them (unless they're playing a bird team, of course), because Vikings are dirty--historically speaking. Some of the other ruffian teams also fall by the wayside due to my OCD about clean hands and clean faces. Yes, I know the current and modern Vikings et.al. probably shower regularly and clean up nicely, but my mental image of a Viking is Erik the Red, and that's simply not doing them any favors in the me-choosing-a-team department. On the other hand, if a team like The Chargers is playing, odds are in their favor. I like the spirit in a name like that, you know? There's something hopeful and optimistic about those who by name are compelled to move forward against the odds. However, if both teams are birds, I only briefly consider this question, because as I said, I've got no use for birds. This tier, like the first tier, is a draw for those two teams, as no bird is better than another. So we move to the next tier of decision-making.
3. If both teams are bird teams, and therefore at a draw, or if the mascots are equally awesome--say, The Bengals and The Lions--we move to Tier Three. Decision-making at Tier Three simply comes down to "Have I ever heard of the quarterback?" Not do I like him, not what are his stats, but have I heard the dude's name. Because, after all, if I've heard of him, he's probably pretty good, right? Unless I happen to know of his name because of particularly unsavory acts (think Michael Vick), in which case the team automatically falls into the 'there's no way I'm rooting for that guy' category. If say, a Manning is playing against Blah-dey Blah, then there will be no love for Mr. Blah. Score one (or seven) for Manning. If I've heard of them both, there may or may not be a sub-category of the tier that takes into account how pretty their eyes are or how articulate they are when speaking into a mic, but I'm not copping to that one. (It's in the fine print.)
4. Finally, all other things being equal--no bird to knock a team out of contention, equally majestic (or equally mundane, as the case may be) mascots, and equally known (and pretty) or equally anonymous quarterbacks--we come down to the final tier. Tier Four is the tie-breaker, the coin toss, the overtime final decision. Tier Four's final chance for a team to win me as their cheerleader for the day comes down to: color. (Mind you, this may change, depending on whether the team is playing in their home or their away uniforms.) Yes, yes, lots of folks choose a team by which jerseys look prettier out in the stadium against the backdrop of a verdant field, but that's too easy, too thoughtless. We only move to the color of the jerseys if all other factors yield no clear victor. After all, if those boys in blue (the team I'm cheering for against the boys in orange) are going to give it their all on the field, I figure I should put a little time and effort into deciding who is worthy of my loyalty--for the day, anyway.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Meet the Underdogs
September 18, 2011
Today was the season opener for the Under 16 Boys Team--The Bandits. Although the boys were scrappy and tough, if today is any indication of the season to come, we might be looking at rooting for the underdogs this season. The 9-2 loss was tough to take, but I was proud of our boys, who did not resort to the pushing and shoving and trash-talking their opponents did on the field. It's appalling to me how arrogant and rude the other team was. I would rather our kids lose every game this season than display the unsportsmanlike conduct we watched on the field today. Here's hoping the upcoming games, win or lose, will prove to be respectful, challenging, competitive, and gentlemanly events. Is that really too much to ask?
Today was the season opener for the Under 16 Boys Team--The Bandits. Although the boys were scrappy and tough, if today is any indication of the season to come, we might be looking at rooting for the underdogs this season. The 9-2 loss was tough to take, but I was proud of our boys, who did not resort to the pushing and shoving and trash-talking their opponents did on the field. It's appalling to me how arrogant and rude the other team was. I would rather our kids lose every game this season than display the unsportsmanlike conduct we watched on the field today. Here's hoping the upcoming games, win or lose, will prove to be respectful, challenging, competitive, and gentlemanly events. Is that really too much to ask?
I'm Complaining About The Hot Weather Now, But...
September 18, 2011
...in a few months, I'll be shivering out on the soccer fields while sipping hot chocolate and peering through the fog. How is it possible that we drew all the 2:00 p.m. games when it's still 90 degree weather, but in a few short weeks, when the temperature starts to drop dramatically, we have four 8:00 a.m. games in a row?
...in a few months, I'll be shivering out on the soccer fields while sipping hot chocolate and peering through the fog. How is it possible that we drew all the 2:00 p.m. games when it's still 90 degree weather, but in a few short weeks, when the temperature starts to drop dramatically, we have four 8:00 a.m. games in a row?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Back on the Big Field Again
August 17, 2011
After months of playing on the small but intense field for indoor soccer, Danielle is ready to be out on the big field. She just started up outdoor soccer again for the fall season. Team Ricochet looks like it will be using Danielle mostly at goalie and defender. She and another girl, Mac, will be splitting goalie duties, which is going to help Danielle reacclimate herself to field work before she hits tryouts for the Alta Sierra team this winter. So far the girls seem like hard-working, friendly kids, and I've been impressed with the skills and strategies they've already learned. I'm looking forward to seeing how the girls fare in league this season. I love watching my girl play!
After months of playing on the small but intense field for indoor soccer, Danielle is ready to be out on the big field. She just started up outdoor soccer again for the fall season. Team Ricochet looks like it will be using Danielle mostly at goalie and defender. She and another girl, Mac, will be splitting goalie duties, which is going to help Danielle reacclimate herself to field work before she hits tryouts for the Alta Sierra team this winter. So far the girls seem like hard-working, friendly kids, and I've been impressed with the skills and strategies they've already learned. I'm looking forward to seeing how the girls fare in league this season. I love watching my girl play!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Go Tigers!
April 9, 2011
This is what winning looks like! Danielle is playing on the house team for Fresno Indoor Soccer. She's working hard and doing a great job as goalie, and she's made some really good friends as well. They're all really supportive of each other--very genuine and friendly girls. The Tigers are so far undefeated in this session, and are still building momentum. We love the girls and the parents on the team as well; if we're lucky, these kids will be the core of a team that continues to play together for a long time to come.
Danielle and two of her soccer buddies--Mckenna and Amanda-- just after a hard-fought win.
This is what winning looks like! Danielle is playing on the house team for Fresno Indoor Soccer. She's working hard and doing a great job as goalie, and she's made some really good friends as well. They're all really supportive of each other--very genuine and friendly girls. The Tigers are so far undefeated in this session, and are still building momentum. We love the girls and the parents on the team as well; if we're lucky, these kids will be the core of a team that continues to play together for a long time to come.
Danielle and two of her soccer buddies--Mckenna and Amanda-- just after a hard-fought win.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Meet The Newest Member of the Alta Sierra Track Team
February, 24, 2011
Today was Nicholas' first track meet ever. I think we were all a little bit like fish out of water out at the track, not really knowing the whole process. Neither Doug nor I had ever been in track in school, and Nicholas wasn't completely clear where he was supposed to be. There are a lot of events going on simultaneously, and lots of movement and activity happening all at once. If you don't know what you're looking for, there's a real sense of visual overload going on.
Nicholas had opted out of throwing the shot put in this first meet, since he didn't feel he had enough practice in. Unfortunately, that meant he wasn't hanging out with most of the 'throwers' while they were competing the shot put event. That meant he didn't really realize that when they were done, the whole group of them had moved to the other side of the field for the discus event. Eventually, I told Nicholas he needed to find his coach and figure out how close we were to his event. By the time he found his coach, he was sent to make a bee-line for the opposite side of the field, because his event was already in progress. We saw where he was heading, and walked ourselves to the other side of the field to watch him. Normally, I guess they get three throws, and the farthest one is counted. Since Nicholas got to event check-in a little late, he was skipped for his first round throw. He got there just in time to toss in the second round. It was a bit shaky. While he was waiting for the other contestants to go through their second and third rounds, he warmed up some, and his second and final throw was pretty impressive. Out of ten or eleven contestants from Alta Sierra and Clark, Nicholas' final throw landed him in fourth place over all. Not bad at all for his first time out of the gate! (On a side note, we've decided not to let him opt out of shot put for future meets. If he stays with the other 'throwers' perhaps he won't miss his first throw when his event is called!)
Today was Nicholas' first track meet ever. I think we were all a little bit like fish out of water out at the track, not really knowing the whole process. Neither Doug nor I had ever been in track in school, and Nicholas wasn't completely clear where he was supposed to be. There are a lot of events going on simultaneously, and lots of movement and activity happening all at once. If you don't know what you're looking for, there's a real sense of visual overload going on.
Nicholas had opted out of throwing the shot put in this first meet, since he didn't feel he had enough practice in. Unfortunately, that meant he wasn't hanging out with most of the 'throwers' while they were competing the shot put event. That meant he didn't really realize that when they were done, the whole group of them had moved to the other side of the field for the discus event. Eventually, I told Nicholas he needed to find his coach and figure out how close we were to his event. By the time he found his coach, he was sent to make a bee-line for the opposite side of the field, because his event was already in progress. We saw where he was heading, and walked ourselves to the other side of the field to watch him. Normally, I guess they get three throws, and the farthest one is counted. Since Nicholas got to event check-in a little late, he was skipped for his first round throw. He got there just in time to toss in the second round. It was a bit shaky. While he was waiting for the other contestants to go through their second and third rounds, he warmed up some, and his second and final throw was pretty impressive. Out of ten or eleven contestants from Alta Sierra and Clark, Nicholas' final throw landed him in fourth place over all. Not bad at all for his first time out of the gate! (On a side note, we've decided not to let him opt out of shot put for future meets. If he stays with the other 'throwers' perhaps he won't miss his first throw when his event is called!)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Back in the Saddle
August 31, 2010
After bowing out of soccer last year, Nicholas has made his return to the field. He had already decided he was done after his 6th grade year, mainly because he thought chances of him making the junior high soccer team weren't all that strong. Although he's strong and has a pretty powerful kick, he simply doesn't have the speed of some of his counterparts. He loves playing and being a part of the team, but he's not particularly competitive, and he figured that would probably end his career. When he broke his foot just before last year's soccer season, even the idea of trying to coax him into trying out became a moot point, and we accepted that his last year of elementary school was his swan's song.
This year, though, when I was looking online to find registration information for Danielle, I discovered that there was a recreational league for boys Nicholas' age and up. I hadn't realized that there was an alternative to the school teams, so I casually mentioned it to Nicholas. His eyes immediately lit up, and he said, "THAT sounds like fun!" It turns out, he really missed it, but was still intimidated by the idea of not making the cut for the team. "Rec. league means everybody gets to play, right?" When I assured him he would be able to play if he wanted, he quickly asked me to register him. Just like that, my boy was a soccer player again.
This past Thursday at practice, Nicholas' coach informed us that the first game would take place on Saturday in Hanford. Hanford?? That's almost an hour away! When I registered Nicholas, I asked about the location for the team and was told they would be either at the park a block away from my house or on the fields by my school. Perfect, I thought. Soccer season would be easy! But no. What I discovered was that the practices would be held at those local fields, but that our boys would be playing teams from neighboring cities, and often our games would necessitate drives of half an hour to an hour. Had I know that, knowing also that I will have to get Danielle to her local games once her season begins, I might not have been so hasty to sign him up. I'm glad I did, because Nicholas gets so much out of being on the team, but my goodness, it's going to get tricky trying to manage soccer games in two different cities each week. Different fields is hard enough! Nevertheless, I tried not to think too hard about the logistical issues in the coming weeks and just focused on watching Nicholas play his first real game in two years.
At the beginning of the game, Nicholas was on the sidelines, cheering on his teammates. Then suddenly, Coach gave him the signal and he ran out to the field...to forward. Forward? Seriously? Nicholas had never been a forward! His position of choice was goalie. He spent a good deal of time at defender as well, and even at mid-fielder every now and again. But forward? That was definitely new. And yet, in his handful of minutes in the position, he managed to make a goal assist. Then he was pulled off the field to get ready to go in as goalie, where he make several very impressive saves before the final whistle. Our kids came out victorious with a final score of 4-1. It was a very exciting game!
After the game, we took advantage of the locale and headed to the famous Superior Dairy, where we met up with Kim and Tim and their kids to indulge in some unbelievably huge servings of ice cream. Nicholas and Chris took on the ultimate challenge of the S.O.S. dish, and they attacked it with fierce tenacity. Those two peas in a pod devoured the S.O.S. with gusto, stopping only occasionally to temper the effects of the inevitable 'brain freeze.'
It was a bit of a long day, but Nicholas' first game of the season did wonders to build the self-esteem of Nicholas and all the boys on the team. And if a game in Hanford every few weeks means we get to visit with the Harrison clan AND get to end the afternoon with ice cream, well, it seems like there are worse ways to spend a Saturday.
After bowing out of soccer last year, Nicholas has made his return to the field. He had already decided he was done after his 6th grade year, mainly because he thought chances of him making the junior high soccer team weren't all that strong. Although he's strong and has a pretty powerful kick, he simply doesn't have the speed of some of his counterparts. He loves playing and being a part of the team, but he's not particularly competitive, and he figured that would probably end his career. When he broke his foot just before last year's soccer season, even the idea of trying to coax him into trying out became a moot point, and we accepted that his last year of elementary school was his swan's song.
This year, though, when I was looking online to find registration information for Danielle, I discovered that there was a recreational league for boys Nicholas' age and up. I hadn't realized that there was an alternative to the school teams, so I casually mentioned it to Nicholas. His eyes immediately lit up, and he said, "THAT sounds like fun!" It turns out, he really missed it, but was still intimidated by the idea of not making the cut for the team. "Rec. league means everybody gets to play, right?" When I assured him he would be able to play if he wanted, he quickly asked me to register him. Just like that, my boy was a soccer player again.
This past Thursday at practice, Nicholas' coach informed us that the first game would take place on Saturday in Hanford. Hanford?? That's almost an hour away! When I registered Nicholas, I asked about the location for the team and was told they would be either at the park a block away from my house or on the fields by my school. Perfect, I thought. Soccer season would be easy! But no. What I discovered was that the practices would be held at those local fields, but that our boys would be playing teams from neighboring cities, and often our games would necessitate drives of half an hour to an hour. Had I know that, knowing also that I will have to get Danielle to her local games once her season begins, I might not have been so hasty to sign him up. I'm glad I did, because Nicholas gets so much out of being on the team, but my goodness, it's going to get tricky trying to manage soccer games in two different cities each week. Different fields is hard enough! Nevertheless, I tried not to think too hard about the logistical issues in the coming weeks and just focused on watching Nicholas play his first real game in two years.
At the beginning of the game, Nicholas was on the sidelines, cheering on his teammates. Then suddenly, Coach gave him the signal and he ran out to the field...to forward. Forward? Seriously? Nicholas had never been a forward! His position of choice was goalie. He spent a good deal of time at defender as well, and even at mid-fielder every now and again. But forward? That was definitely new. And yet, in his handful of minutes in the position, he managed to make a goal assist. Then he was pulled off the field to get ready to go in as goalie, where he make several very impressive saves before the final whistle. Our kids came out victorious with a final score of 4-1. It was a very exciting game!
After the game, we took advantage of the locale and headed to the famous Superior Dairy, where we met up with Kim and Tim and their kids to indulge in some unbelievably huge servings of ice cream. Nicholas and Chris took on the ultimate challenge of the S.O.S. dish, and they attacked it with fierce tenacity. Those two peas in a pod devoured the S.O.S. with gusto, stopping only occasionally to temper the effects of the inevitable 'brain freeze.'
It was a bit of a long day, but Nicholas' first game of the season did wonders to build the self-esteem of Nicholas and all the boys on the team. And if a game in Hanford every few weeks means we get to visit with the Harrison clan AND get to end the afternoon with ice cream, well, it seems like there are worse ways to spend a Saturday.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Queen Bees
October 3, 2009
It looks like Danielle's soccer team, the Queen Cobras, is in for a character-building season. During the seeding tournament a couple of weeks ago, the team didn't score a single goal. Today's game, the first in league play, saw them hold on to that trend. It's not for lack of trying--these girls ran and played hard. They've still got a lot to learn about passing and playing position, and most importantly, shooting a goal towards the space where the goalie IS NOT. Nevertheless, we definitely saw some improvements in the way the girls worked together this week, and hopefully they can build on that as practices progress this week.
The opposing team did not suffer the same tactical errors our girls did. Danielle ended up playing goalie both halves this game, because her trade-off counterpart wasn't feeling well. She let four goals fly by her, but again, not for lack of trying. Two of those goals were regular, in-play shots, one of which hit high in the corner of the goal. The girl couldn't have stopped it to save her life--it arched three feet over her head and dropped into the net. Another shot she dove for, but missed.
The last two were penalty kicks. Mano-a-mano, a girl with a power kick aimed at a wide open goal, Danielle the only thing between her and a score. Let me tell ya, those penalty kicks are almost as hard for me to watch as they are for her to defend! To her credit, she didn't get discouraged at all--just got right back up to do her job again. She had some good stops, too; if she hadn't, the score would have been even more lopsided.
I really like her coach this year. He does a great job of trying to give the girls strategy, building
teamwork, providing constructive criticism, and really encouraging them. He tells them what they need to do better, but he is liberal with his praise of what the girls are doing well. He wants the girls to learn and have fun, and feel good about themselves even when they don't win. Isn't that what all of us parents want for our kids? So far, so good!
It looks like Danielle's soccer team, the Queen Cobras, is in for a character-building season. During the seeding tournament a couple of weeks ago, the team didn't score a single goal. Today's game, the first in league play, saw them hold on to that trend. It's not for lack of trying--these girls ran and played hard. They've still got a lot to learn about passing and playing position, and most importantly, shooting a goal towards the space where the goalie IS NOT. Nevertheless, we definitely saw some improvements in the way the girls worked together this week, and hopefully they can build on that as practices progress this week.
The opposing team did not suffer the same tactical errors our girls did. Danielle ended up playing goalie both halves this game, because her trade-off counterpart wasn't feeling well. She let four goals fly by her, but again, not for lack of trying. Two of those goals were regular, in-play shots, one of which hit high in the corner of the goal. The girl couldn't have stopped it to save her life--it arched three feet over her head and dropped into the net. Another shot she dove for, but missed.
The last two were penalty kicks. Mano-a-mano, a girl with a power kick aimed at a wide open goal, Danielle the only thing between her and a score. Let me tell ya, those penalty kicks are almost as hard for me to watch as they are for her to defend! To her credit, she didn't get discouraged at all--just got right back up to do her job again. She had some good stops, too; if she hadn't, the score would have been even more lopsided.
I really like her coach this year. He does a great job of trying to give the girls strategy, building
teamwork, providing constructive criticism, and really encouraging them. He tells them what they need to do better, but he is liberal with his praise of what the girls are doing well. He wants the girls to learn and have fun, and feel good about themselves even when they don't win. Isn't that what all of us parents want for our kids? So far, so good!
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