For the love of the game

Tonight was Joseph's fourth soccer game of the season. Thus far he has accomplished two goals and two really nice assists. However, in under 6 soccer there is no score and no goalie so it is simply for skills and the fun of it all. But in the "fun of it all" the walls have to be dead. Which is about as exciting as watching paint dry. These kids are, you guessed it, under six years old and they haven't the depth in their skills or the ability to fully understand the concept of dead walls in indoor soccer. I realize the rule is for safety and to learn the game the new and improved way... personally I don't see what was wrong with the old way? We all survived a quality rebounded soccer ball off of the face, why change that now? I have to wonder what type of skills these kids are aquiring when it has pretty much become a game of someone stands out of bounds and kicks the ball in. But rules are rules, and soccer is now improved soccer. I guess by the time these kids are 18 they will have the skills to keep the ball off of the walls and will not have ever been any of the wiser.

Coming back to the fact that these kids are all 6 and under, they are now getting a little bored with soccer and the novelty and excitement has worn off for some. Their interest lies more in sitting and watching or playing on the stage, not playing soccer. But it was really nice to see that Joseph was still one of the kids who was out there whole heartedly and excited to see the outcome of the game and cheer on his pals. It made me proud to see that he isn't ready to throw in the towel or give up. For him, it is still fun... just what it should be.