West City Soccer: Family Night

I asked several times previously about soccer programs for kids--Elena did one several years ago with the YMCA. She did well, but she was just starting to walk on grass with her crutches. She was very slow, and managed to get to the next activity just as everyone was finishing. E was proud of herself, though. We opted to try to work on her outside skills before trying again.

I called the local soccer league and asked if they would be open to the idea of E on the soccer pitch. They were EXTREMELY hesitant, but did not say no. Even though they didn't say it, I felt like it would have been a disaster, one that I'd have to fight for E every step of the way. I just wasn't ready for that. I rarely shy away from peer activities--but groups sports isn't something in which I can engineer success for Elena. I feel like I want Elena to be successful in gross motor activities so she can want to do more of them. A scrimmage between lots of semi-competitive kids, who run fast, kick hard, and tussle around doesn't seem like a wise place for a pint-sized kid who gets tangled in her crutches when trying to walk ALONE.

Some friends of ours told us about a family soccer program--their kids LOVED IT. I had talked to Coach West before--but the timing was terrible--outside, a school night, and would end after Elena's bedtime. The timing was all wrong.

This season, the timing is RIGHT. It's a Friday night, it's indoors, and the gym is literally a five minute drive from our house. I was still worried that it would be a bad fit--but it was the best fit we were going to have. I had played soccer with West (against his team, anyway) and he has seen Elena before. We've talked on the phone several times, months apart, regarding whether or not it was a good idea for E. West ALWAYS said it was. I wasn't sure if he would resonate with Elena--or kids--b/c on the field, he could be pretty intense.

We've been three (four?) weeks now.

WEST CITY SOCCER ROCKS!

Family night is just that--the entire family, including younger siblings and parents, all do drills together. It's not competitive; it's a workout; it's cooperative. The other kids ARE WONDERFUL to Elena, which is always a relief for me. There are about 4 other kids her age, and most of them have younger siblings and parent(s) that attend. Elena might be the only one who uses crutches, but she's not the only one who falls, or who has difficulty dribbling a ball or trying to do a drill. The other families are wonderfully inclusive, their children are curious and warm to us, and everyone enjoys themselves. The exercises ARE FANTASTIC--and are things I'd never have considered.



Elena's just another kid out there. Seriously, the first night, I almost cried when one of the other 5-7 year-olds picked E as his partner. They had to follow each other with a ball--something neither of them was particularly good at, but they BOTH challenged EACH OTHER, which was something I didn't think would happen.

West and Lily's drills are confidence building and challenging. They are fantastic for kids, for novices, and for experienced players too. I will make a list of them for another post.

Tonight, at the end of the session, we had our first scrimmage. My worst fear regarding E and soccer skills was tested.

First, the adults played--the rule was NO TALKING and no kicking the ball in the air. Then West picked some kids (the older ones, of which E is one) to come out and play with the adults. ALL the kids got touches--INCLUDING E (I WAS SO EXCITED!)--and no one fell. One of the last plays, E stopped a pass and then it got stuck between her legs. The kids all went for it--but were gentle not to push her, or kick her crutches. They eventually kicked the ball out from her--but NO ONE got hurt, and EVERYONE had a BLAST. It was the antithesis of everything I thought E's first scrimmage would be like. It was GREAT!

Thanks Coach West and Coach Lily--we'll see you next week!