Hi Mom!

Nicky had his first soccer game yesterday.  His team is called the "Plano Kings", and they proved that on the field!  They dominated the "Lil' Dinos", beating them 7-0!  Ok - so it is four on for, with no goalie, but still!  You'd think it would be easy on the smaller field and goal they have for them, but it's pretty difficult to get the ball in the little net.  Our team manager's twin sons (Ethan and Jordan) are really talented - I was impressed with their footwork.  Needless to say, one of them was on the field at all times.  Just goes to show the parents are just as competitive...and so it starts.  

We got to the field a little after 9:30am (game time was 10am) and there was only one other kid (Trevor) from our team there.  Nicky spent the next half hour hiding behind my legs.  Kris had to work at the fire station, so it was just Momma trying to convince him to "be a big boy" and "go have fun and play", as Nicky cried because I kicked the ball with one of his teammates.  Trevor's dad helped me get Nicky to warm up a bit, but he was still having none of it as the coach gathered them all just before the game.  Kris must have ESPN (hee hee hee!) because he somehow sensed that he needed to call, and shortly after the game started, I put him on the phone with Nicky, and whatever he said worked.  Nicky stopped crying, wiped the snot on his arm (never would've allowed that any other time, but forgot my tissues, and he's supposed to look tough, right?!), and he asked the coach to put him in!

I told Nicky to a) kick the ball into the net; 2) don't use his hands; and d) follow Trevor.  Well, let's just say that he heard the latter.  He followed Trevor like a hawk!  After the first quarter, the coach switched out a few players and Nicky came to the sidelines all smiles.  He must have asked me "i play now?" at least 100 times over the next 45 minutes.

Things I learned watching Nicky's 1st soccer game:

1. They may be little, but they actually have mad skills!  They are quick, nimble, and it wasn't the disaster I thought it would be.
2. 4 year olds are aggressive little brutes.  There was one portly kid on the other team that walked right up to Nicky and shoved him for no reason (the ball was out of play) and Nicky looked at him like "what the?!", then looked at me, all the while I was yelling "hey bully!" at the kid.  Ok, I realize it's soccer and that stuff happens, but he's my baby and no one messes with my baby!  Give that kid a yellow card!
3. 4 year olds don't quite know how to play as a team.  They all want the glory of scoring a goal.  There's no such thing as passing to a fellow player.  Apparently "team" is spelled with an "i" afterall.
4. Nicky doesn't get the "no hands" thing just yet (it is only his 2nd time playing, so it's to be expected).  While down at the goal, we were all yelling at the kids to "keep it in the lines", etc, so, wanting to follow instructions, Nicky picked up the ball and carried it back in front of the goal!  The assistant coach (who I had been standing by and we were all joking around the whole game) says "where's that kid's mother?!"  I looked around and said "yeah!  didn't she tell her kid not to use his hands?!"  Nicky's new mob name:  No Hands Nicky.

It wasn't until the beginning of the 4th quarter that Nicky actually made contact with the ball (Trevor was off the field).  However, he kicked it towards the other team's goal.  Nicky was so proud, he ran towards me yelling "i kick da ball momma!"  I was so proud - wrong direction and all.  He must have gotten a dose of confidence because he kicked it again after that, assisting Jordan's goal!

After the defeat, we all lined up and did the "good game" thing, and the best part - snack and a "prize" (the loudest whistle EVER) for doing a good job.  Nicky smiled all the way home and told me all about how he ran, kicked the ball and had fun.  Although there were a few "oh yeah - i'm here to play soccer and not watch the golf cart drive by" and "look, there's an airplane", and "where did everyone go...oh...the other way where the ball is" moments, I was beaming and so happy he got out there and played.  Maybe this is just what he needs to help him come out of his shell a bit!