Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Spring Soccer


 
Hazel and Parley played on their first soccer teams this spring season.  My friend Lori tried to warn me, "Never sign up for spring soccer.  It is miserable."  I didn't listen.  I now understand.  The season ends tomorrow and of their eight games, two or three (maybe?) were pleasant weather.  

But other than the wind chill, and wet grass, we had a great season.  Both of them cared more about the treat at the end of the game than scoring goals, but they were at least happy to be there.  Hazel was as timid on the field as she is in social situations, but even though she had no intentions of trying to get the ball away from anyone, she'd run along following it as we cheered from the sidelines, "Good running!  Nice Try!"

Parley was not timid.  Distracted? Absolutely.  He'd run around pulling up his shorts around his underwear following the rest of the crowd, but with no idea where the ball was.  "Watch the ball, Pars!" we'd yell, and he'd look all over (shorts still pulled up) and not see his teammate throwing the ball in. Once at kick-off of, Jed and I looked over just as Parley was shaking his hips around and around with his shorts hiked around his hugs.  Apparently he was watching his shadow move.  

When he did get close to the ball and the kids though, his aggression was key.  At a time out, he came running off the field and said, "Mom, I tried to punch that guy because I thought he was a blue guy, but it was actually Atticus."  I tried to explain that punching isn't apart of soccer, but since someone yanked his ear during the last game, he couldn't quite understand the difference. 

All in all, we had a great season.  We don't have our sights on the World Cup in the future, but Provo Parks and Recreation is second best.

8 comments:

St. Julien's said...

Thanks for a nice little laugh Jane. I can just picture it and I am loving it. Back in my earliest parks and rec days I would practice my cart wheels and hand stands in that big grassy field. You should see my cart wheels nowadays PRITTTY impressive;)

Anita Wells said...

awesome. dandelions were big with our players too. (notice how those hand-me-down cleats were still in pretty good shape? :-)
and watch out for fall season, it snows then too.

megan said...

He's got to get a punch in at Atticus now and then. The blue guy thing was just a poor excuse.

Try fall soccer next. It's better. Hot and miserable instead of cold and miserable.

Erin Deegan said...

i totally understand the chilliness of spring sports... i'm in the midst of t-ball now and brrrrrrrrr..... i've been chilled to the bone! great post, thanks!

Teachinfourth said...

I went to a soccer game last night; I got a notification through my Gmail Calendar letting me know 10 minutes before it started…I don't know why students can't just ask face to face when they're at school.

Glad that Parley didn't turn the field into a rumble; you know, being the fistaloar he is...

Bloom said...

oh man, i loved this. we haven't tried any sports with blaine yet, but i can just picture him dancing and watching his shadow instead of knowing where the ball is. classic.

and your 'trying to be as good as' makes me smile. pretty much whenever i think about lori i want to be a better person.

Jen said...

Yes- this is when I am glad i live in sunny ca. Of course when I am writing the check to the rec dept for 7 times what you are paying, well then I am not so smug.

Lauren said...

So I've never commented before, but I had to when I read this. I went to school with your brother Chuck, and reading about Parley reminded me of 5th grade and how Chuck and Ben Knudsen used to pull their sweatpants up to their ears and run around the soccer field. Must be in the genes! :)