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.