Saturday was official start of the Soccer Game season here in Harford County.
Paul is playing in the "clinic" league, which is cute and very encouraging.
He is actually really getting it figured out! John has really been working with him and it is showing. Paul has got the concept of where the ball needs to go (the goal) and who needs to get it there (a player).
Of course there is lots of falling down, shooting at the wrong goal, crying, and a few kids who really don't want to be there and who keep running off the field, but Paul isn't one of them. He had a great time!
They don't keep score in that league so there was no winner or loser, but the other team did get the ball into the goal 5 times. Paul's team managed to have enough players on the field at a given time, so we counted that as a major accomplishment.John's team is really coming together and he is turning into quite an asset to the team this year.
He is on the same team as last year and his coach works really hard to develop the skills of his players. They are always the last ones off the practice field and Kevin (the coach) actually changed plans to have surgery on his knee so that he could get through the season. That's devotion to duty. He is the guy in blue. His son is on the team (#10) and is quite a player. John really likes him.
So Saturday they pulled it off! They won their very first game of the season! They didn't win one last year! They played a really aggressive team from an area south of us, who shall remain nameless. Suffice it to say, this team played better with their mouths than with their feet and their skill at verbal intimidation and foul play was very highly developed. As one of them put it: "I'm going to beat the !@#% out of you after the game." Very qualified.
Our guys were awesome! The defense was totally on and only let one shot get through and even in the face of sliding tackles and elbows to the ribs, they kept the ball on the other side of the field and shot three goals. It was great!
We are looking forward to the next game!
