Soccer season

Soccer season is in full swing (or full foot as Randy likes to joke) and Isaac is enjoying playing in the under 10s league with Eaton Elementary.  Although this isn't his "home" elementary school (it is about a mile and a half from our house), he was placed on this team three years ago when the Robinson team was too full and made some good friends, so he has chosen to play with them every year since.  This year the sign-ups were really slim at both Eaton and Robinson so the teams were combined anyway!  If you ask Isaac what is his favorite sport, he'd probably reply, "baseball".  But he also really enjoys soccer, Randy enjoys helping with the team, and Isaac is really coming "into his own" position in front of the goal!  A few years back when the coaches were trying to pick positions for their players, goalie was picked by placing boys in front of the goal and having other players kick balls at them!  Isaac wasn't deterred at all and dove and caught without fear.  So goalie it was!  

Isaac has kept his team undefeated!  Yesterday, after taking a horizontal dive to save a goal, arm outstretched, his elbow was feeling a bit sore from hitting the ground and he came out to give it a rest.  The opposing team took advantage of the backup goalie (who, honestly, had a bit of deer-in-headlights look to him, being asked to step in) and scored within minutes.  Although I felt bad for the kid, it was neat to see Isaac's teammates rally around him, telling him, your elbow's fine, you can ice it later, you're our best goalie, get back in there!  So he did!  But after keeping the goal safe for most of the game, the opposing team made a pretty spectacular shot in the last few minutes!  The game ended in a tie, 2-2.  So the Eaton Rebels are now 3-0-1, with 6 games left in the season.

I must admit, even though I grew up with a dad and a brother that played soccer, and I went to quite a few games growing up (I never got a chance to see Randy play since we started dating after his soccer years were over), I have never enjoyed watching soccer like I do when Isaac is on the field!  It is no secret that Isaac can be a tough kid to parent at times, and it seems like a wonderful reward to sit on the sidelines and watch my child excel at something and feel so proud of himself!  And I am proud of him for continuing to improve his soccer skills both on and off the field (his sportsmanship has seen a turn for the better this year as well).  I look forward to many more years of tromping over dew soaked fields to set up my lawn chair, orange slices and Capri Suns at the ready, and rooting on my son's teams!