Soccer Saturdays

and Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Our weeks are full of soccer, practices and games, and even play inside our house still!
Reese has practice twice a week, as well as Cameron, and Grace once, but Grace also has been in a program with some of the Rush competitive coaches, with practices several times a month. Reese's games and Grace's program are both across town, and start at just the right time for us to be fighting the worst traffic to get there, so it takes up a lot of our days.
Reese is passionate about soccer, practices all the time, plans moves and thinks strategically about the game he's playing or moves to play, and watches a video on youtube about Messi's goals to get ready for his games. He's also on one of the most struggling teams in the bottom bracket, so it's been a tough year, and he gets discouraged. We are trying to figure out how to teach optimism and best-effort, never-give-up, but are having a tough time with that. Defeat after defeat doesn't help that either. RD takes him to most of the games, and told me about a game he was on fire, making 6 goals, amazing effort and plays, even the other coach told his coach 'that kid's really really good!". I had the camera that day for the other two games, but when I've taken him to the 6pm weeknight games across town, I've seen the 'we're going to lose' attitude.

he's pulling the ball back, pivots, and breaks away with the ball

Cameron is now among the oldest in his age group, and has been one of the strong members of his team, assisting most of the goals made when he's on the field. It's been great to see him gain some confidence and skill in the game, and feel successful.

Grace likes her soccer team, being on the same team (all girls from school) for the last couple years, but doesn't like the club program, so maybe she's not going to stay interested in soccer. She gets lots of practice with her brothers, and is learning some cool moves.