Game Day

You wouldn't think that they'd have a game the first week they have a practice, but they did. It was pretty interesting. I lost track of the score but I know we lost- not horribly but definitely. This age group plays four on four with no goalie. The idea is basically a three forward and one sweeper setup. But I think our team didn't have time to get into the concept of positions yet, since our side didn't do well at keeping to positions.

Grant is on the 'Tiger Sharks' by the way and he's number #66 by request. You can tell when he's out there playing he just loves it- when the ball goes into play he gives a little howl and goes after it. There were a couple times when the ball being rolled back to the center for a kickoff was suddenly in play again until the ref got control again. I suspect at these times... Grant got the ball. :)

They're so new (even the ones who've played before) that they don't really ever know what to do. There's a lot of blank looks to the sideline, often as the game starts again, while parents and coaches shout instructions. Bad moves by the four on the field become teaching moments for the four on the bench as the coaches have a quick huddle to let them know what should have really happened. It was lots of fun.

Makes me curious though. I think the media's message is that parents shouldn't drive kids to play/do better in life because they should come up with that motivation themselves. But would we? Without knowing what our parents want for us and understanding what it takes to achieve would we really ever be able to set our own goals. I think, in the gospel anyway, that it starts out with the basic premise of missionary work- Heavenly Father gets the word out on His goals for us. He doesn't enforce them, but does promise rewards. Gradually though, the goal becomes our own.

Maybe the constantly reinforced media message of "The children should do whatever they want." is more suspicious than I used to think.