John's Soccer Adventure
Last year when we would go to Elizabeth's soccer games John wanted so badly to be out there playing soccer with the kids. So naturally when soccer sign-ups came around this year we signed him up. Paul even signed up to be an assistant coach, but they were short on volunteers so he got the job of coach. John seemed to enjoy the couple of practices. He has a good strong kick and can aim it pretty well. But it was hard for him to wait his turn to do the drills, so I stood by him to keep his attention focused away from picking grass. He was destined to be the kid that makes everyone laugh because his mind is anywhere but in the game.
He was excited when it came time for his first game . . . until he was on the field warming up. He wanted nothing to do with playing soccer. The more Paul tried to encourage him the more he didn't want to do it. He would go limp and lay in the grass. So the first game he spent on my lap watching. The second game was while Paul was out of town and we got the same reaction, so we left before the game even started. If Paul wasn't the coach we would have quit for good, but since Paul is the coach I figured we had better at least come to the games, even if John never played. The third game was the same, except John was willing and excited to go "shake" hands at the end of the game.
Last Thursday Paul was finally back, we got John to go out on the field to warm up, but all he wanted to do was sit in the grass and find dirt to play with. He did the limp lay in the grass routine, so he came to sit with me. Half time was just about over and he jumped out of his chair and ran on to the field to where this little girl was standing. He was less than a foot in front of her just talking away to her. I wish I knew what he said. I guess it just took a pretty face to get him on the field. When it was time to start the game again, he did not want to play, so he came back to sit with me. I kept encouraging him to go lay with the kids, to go kick the ball. When I finally stumbled upon the right words to use, "John do you want to play with the girls?" Up he went right out on the field. (The poor kid has too may sisters.) He parked himself about midfield in the grass and began to pick at. We were just so excited that he finally decided to be out there.
The ball would roll right past him and didn't seem to phase him. There were a few other boys who thought they would stop and see what John was doing and pick a few pieces of grass with him. At one point John was actually on his feet and he even managed to kick the ball!!!!
He had another game today, and we were very hopeful that perhaps he had turned over a new leaf. Besides John, only three other members of the team showed up, so they really needed him to play. Paul put the goalie shirt on John and stuck him in the goal. Literally stuck him there, picked him up and placed him sitting in a nice worn spot so he could play in the dirt. Good thing they don't keep score.
He was excited when it came time for his first game . . . until he was on the field warming up. He wanted nothing to do with playing soccer. The more Paul tried to encourage him the more he didn't want to do it. He would go limp and lay in the grass. So the first game he spent on my lap watching. The second game was while Paul was out of town and we got the same reaction, so we left before the game even started. If Paul wasn't the coach we would have quit for good, but since Paul is the coach I figured we had better at least come to the games, even if John never played. The third game was the same, except John was willing and excited to go "shake" hands at the end of the game.
Last Thursday Paul was finally back, we got John to go out on the field to warm up, but all he wanted to do was sit in the grass and find dirt to play with. He did the limp lay in the grass routine, so he came to sit with me. Half time was just about over and he jumped out of his chair and ran on to the field to where this little girl was standing. He was less than a foot in front of her just talking away to her. I wish I knew what he said. I guess it just took a pretty face to get him on the field. When it was time to start the game again, he did not want to play, so he came back to sit with me. I kept encouraging him to go lay with the kids, to go kick the ball. When I finally stumbled upon the right words to use, "John do you want to play with the girls?" Up he went right out on the field. (The poor kid has too may sisters.) He parked himself about midfield in the grass and began to pick at. We were just so excited that he finally decided to be out there.
The ball would roll right past him and didn't seem to phase him. There were a few other boys who thought they would stop and see what John was doing and pick a few pieces of grass with him. At one point John was actually on his feet and he even managed to kick the ball!!!!
He had another game today, and we were very hopeful that perhaps he had turned over a new leaf. Besides John, only three other members of the team showed up, so they really needed him to play. Paul put the goalie shirt on John and stuck him in the goal. Literally stuck him there, picked him up and placed him sitting in a nice worn spot so he could play in the dirt. Good thing they don't keep score.
He spent most of the game facing backwards. John could not be distracted from his dirt and grass to pay any attention to the ball or the players running at him. Although he did manage to block one kick, the ball bounced off his knee which kept it from going in the goal. It was a pretty hard kick that he blocked and after that it was hard to keep him on the field.
This has been quite the adventure. Thank goodness he is playing with 3 & 4 year olds and that our league is so layed back. But I think we will stick to playing soccer in the back yard next year.
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