Our Own Little Beckham

Last Spring Vincente played T-ball and had fun, but this year we decided to try out soccer.

I’m pretty sure Vincente has found his favorite sport. I definitely found mind!

When we signed Vincente up for soccer with his best friend Nicky (one of his friends from preschool/the ward) I put down that I would volunteer to be a coach if they needed one. Apparently they needed one, because I became the coach.

I actually found that I really enjoy coaching. And what I lacked in soccer skills and knowledge was made up by my “assistant coach”, Nicky’s dad (a native Egyptian – i.e., he lives, breathes, and bleeds soccer – there is just an accent barrier – the kids had a hard time understanding him). We made a great team, and I am excited to get the team together again in the fall for more great soccer.

We’re just Rec league soccer folks – not too competitive, mostly for fun and learning soccer.

Speaking of learning soccer – our “division” was 5-6 year olds (technically, Kindergarteners and “just before” Kindergarteners). Seven of our twelve players were preschoolers. Which means that we were often playing games against whole teams of kindergarteners!

YouTube fixed the shakiness of the video for me!! Whoa, that is SO cool!

I am pretty sure we were the most improved team in the division. Our kids started out in a “cluster”, not really knowing what to do with the ball, and ended up being able to steal, block, defend, and dribble. They still have a lot to work on, but they improved so much. It was really rewarding as a coach.

And all the parents want me to coach again this fall! I’m pretty excited. It’s always nice to have a community – no matter where that community is.

On top of that, Vince and Nicky’s other best friend from Kindergarten has decided that he wants to play with them on their team this fall.

Little Slugger

Because I just downloaded these pictures from my camera today, and we have a T-ball game tonight, I thought I would share our little slugger:

Running home -

With “coach” -

And would he be a man (or a jock) if he wasn’t caught adjusting himself?

I promise that I wasn’t trying to get this shot! He moved his hand just as I snapped the picture. I think it’s adorable.

T-ball is certainly fun. No stress, just fun, every gets a chance to hit, everyone gets a chance to “catch” (and by catch I mean, hold up their mitt, then after the ball sails past them, or falls 4 feet in front of them, run to pick it up, and throw it at – er, to – a teammate, who then throws it home), no strikes, no outs, just fun! And the last kid up to bat hits a home run by default (so all the kids can come back in and the teams can switch).

The worst drama is when two kids run after the same ball when they are playing on the field. And then there was the kid that did somersaults to second base. And the one who skipped first base altogether and decided he’d go straight to second. The fun that is 4-year-old T-ball.