GOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!

We have finally entered the brave new world of organized sports around these parts!  Scott signed Ethan up for soccer a few weeks ago, and even though we were WAY late in registering him, we were lucky to find there were still a few spots open in the league.  Aside from a brief intro to soccer via Start Smart Soccer in Provo back in the day (he was 4), we have not really had any experience with playing sports up to this point.  When we moved this summer, however, we promised the kids they could each choose something they really wanted to try. The girls chose gymnastics {which I still haven't gotten around to signing them up for} and Ethan chose soccer.

The two different city leagues around here are supposedly pretty intense.  And since Ethan is much older starting out than most other soccer players, we decided to go with a different league altogether and chose Upward Sports {a Christian sports league}.  His first practice was a couple of weeks ago and his first game was Saturday, and I have to say -- I'm really happy with this program!

{I was just snapping pictures left and right while out at the game and didn't realize until I was uploading them at home that I caught a perfect shot of them beginning the game with a prayer.}

I have nothing to base this soccer experience off of {I'VE never played the game and we've never put the kids in anything else}.   And I don't know how this soccer program compares to others out there, but based purely on my powers of observation, the game seemed a bit different.  The fields and goals are much smaller than normal, for one thing, and there are also no goalies.  I think the idea is to promote more movement around the field and create more playing opportunities, but I really have no idea.  Ethan seems to be having a good time, though, and that's all that matters to me!

Waiting on the sidelines.

Action shot.

Half-time was actually a really neat experience.  I had already trekked across the field to get a few more pictures of Ethan with his team before I realized that all the players from all the games being played were gathering together for a group activity.  In a "Minute to Win It" type activity, one player from each team was sent up to get a balloon {or two for the older kids} to try and keep up in the air for an entire minute.  Ethan was chosen from his team and tried his hardest to keep the balloons up, but the wind was definitely not in anyone's favor.

Listening to the instructions.

After the minute was up and all the kids went back to their teams, the organizer went on to give a lesson and message that I thought was very timely for our family.  He likened the activity and the difficulty of keeping all the balloons up in the air to the tough time parents have in juggling all of the things they are responsible for.  He went on to talk about the commandment we've been given to honor our father and our mother and how much it helps them when kids remember to do that.  "When you honor your parents," he said, "instead of having 5 or 6 balloons to juggle, it will make your parents feel like there are only one or two."

Listening attentively.

Half-time was then closed with a prayer and all the teams went back to their games.  I loved that!  I really appreciated the message that was shared and totally felt the spirit {as odd as that may sound given the soccer field venue}.   Of course, when I asked Ethan afterwards what he thought about the half-time lesson he said it was "weird," but I'm hoping that hearing it from someone else might help that commandment to sink in just a LITTLE bit better.  Hahaha.

In the end, Ethan's team won 7-4 with Ethan scoring 4 of those 7 goals.  I would say that soccer season is off to a great start!