We’re two weekends into the soccer season and so far so goooooooooool.
Or “golazo” as Nate likes to say.
I arrived late to Nate’s first game and found out I was substitute coaching. Bad news? We only had three players and had to borrow one every quarter from the other team. Good news? All that front door evening soccer practice is really paying off. Apparently we’re called the Lion Panthers, not the Awesome Panthers as previously reported. Not to be confused with the Lyin’ Panthers… or Supreme Court nominees.
Jacob prefers goalie, which is a terrific substitute for high intensity interval training. Nothing like a simulated heart attack every three minutes. The Gray Ghosts consist mostly of rookies. Based on our first two games, Jake’s proposed renaming them the Crazy Comebacks.
Nate has the benefit of being one of the older kids on his team, which is generally the pattern every other year. Last weekend I couldn’t get enough of the dad yelling, “C’mon Brady… pretend you’re having fun!” Brady’s in kinder and isn’t yet sure he wants the ball to touch him.
Both of my sons are working on their soccer humility. It’s particularly hard when Nate’s scored two hat tricks, from defense, and I’ve challenged him that he can only pass. Especially when a family from the other team asks me, “Is that your son? He’s so good.” “Shhhhh…” I scream with my eyes. We’re working on humble and helpful.
After our first game at Damon Garcia, Nate and I pause for a quick pit stop while Jake guards our mountain of chairs and gear and snack bags. We head into the one room restroom and find both a regular toilet and a floor to face height urinal. Perfect. Nate’s unsure about his assigned facility…
“Do I just pee onto the floor?”
“Pretty much.”
And then I ask, “Have you ever used one of those before?”
“Nope…. Have you?”
“Nope.”