Offsides

So, I really struggle with some of the aspects of soccer, because well, growing up we had baseball, football, and basketball. There wasn't an opportunity to play this new fangled sport "Soccer".

Being extremely transparent here, you need to know that I can't figure out what offsides means. I mean, I totally drew the picture up there, and I pretty much drew it on my own. I had a little help from a diagram online, but overall I get that. But, what I don't understand is how referees can see things like "offsides". Maybe it's my contacts, but my eyes don't move quickly enough to see those things.

After a little research on the highly reliable "wikipedia" I found that the offsides rule has been around since 1847 and was actually called "sneaking". Wait, I'm not that old, how come we didn't have soccer when I was growing up? I demand a do-over! Over time, the sneaking rule became called offsides and in 1925, it was amended to something about 2 attackers, but I didn't understand that part, and then in 1990 it was changed back to one player, blah, blah, blah. If you really want to know look it up. The point is, I don't get it!

HOWEVER, I do understand this. The rule is made because otherwise the defensive player could just wait around by the goalie until the ball came there. It kind of sounds like the rule was made for kids like Reed who doesn't like to run constantly and would like for the ball just to come to him while others do the work.

The Tournament

 The Spring season kicked off with renewed excitement for soccer. I was excited that it was time to play soccer again. I'd moved on from my disbelief that I was a hypocrite and now fully embraced my role as a soccer dad. A travel soccer dad, that is. Reed was excited because his best friend, Britton, was now on the team.

 Our Spring team was packed with talent. We had quite a few more players. That meant that we finally had more than one sub. My favorite quote from the season so far came when Ellie "B" kicked her first goal. This precious little angel-haired blonde boy named, James, who obviously has the gift of encouragement started cheering for her. He said "Ellie that is great! You are awesome! You did so good." It was so neat to see him cheering her own and then he finished "Because you usually don't get many goals." "B" did a great job and I'm impressed with how much all of the players have improved.

 Meanwhile, the brothers have enjoyed soccer season starting back because that means more outside play time and because we are very interested in watching the game, they know they can get away with playing in dirt … lots of dirt.

 These kids have my heart right here. They are all in my Sunday School class this year. It's so much fun to see them play and get to watch them grow. You are looking at future world-changers right there. That's three amazing kids!

Our first Spring tournament was a success. We dominated. I was so proud of the boys and their great atittudes. We've got a pretty awesome coach as well.

Travel Soccer

Travel ball … I think I was tricked. I honestly had no idea what I was signing up for. In the world of children's ministry, travel ball is like one of the worst ugly words you can say. In fact, I've traveled the nation teaching children's ministry leaders about the perils of children's playing in leagues that take them away from church.

I didn't think that I would ever be a parent who could stoop so low as to endorse or even love travel ball. I also didn't think that I would ever be face with the opportunity. You see, Reed's first season went a little like this. Exciting times of running through the house looking for shin guards, cleats, and jerseys, followed by a trip to the YMCA soccer fields where Reed would immediatly clam up and act like he had no intentions of inflicting pain on the poor little defenseless soccer ball that Coach Todd was begging him to kick.

Finally, though it happened. He kicked the ball and he liked it. Nash also played. Coach Todd moved on to baseball and we realized the kids weren't really learning how to PLAY soccer at the Y. We moved to a new town and my wife found out about this awesome coach whose kids played soccer and was said to be a great coach at teaching techniques. Nash really didn't care, so I took Reed.

Timidly, Reed embraced this new team filled with kids from our church and a few other locals. This felt right. Then, all of a sudden, I was added told to add some APP called Team Snap to my phone and was given a list of items that my fees would be covering. Whoa! 2 uniforms, a practice jersey, a backpack? What was I signing up for? Then it hit me, we were playing travel ball.