Kickin It

This last weekend Gabriella had her very first soccer game. The weeks of practicing and the excitement of the day was apparent as eight little girls chatted about their outfits and new hair bows. As team mom I had the important job of providing the snacks and drinks for the game. While we searched through what seemed like a thousand fields searching for ours, lugging a cooler full of drinks and ice, I noticed how many kids play soccer. This was just one field in what are probably millions across the country holding games just like the one we participated in. I'm not much of a sports person myself, but I can appreciate the skills organized sports teach a child. There are many, personal discipline, team work, good sportsmanship and the idea that you can have fun even if you lose. In Gabriella's division they don't keep score but every parent knows the score as we cheer for every shot and goal. At first I wondered why not keep score because surely the kids would know, but the reality is they don't. Hours after the game Gabriella casually asked us who won and what the score was. I was shocked and happy. It proved that the AYSO knows what they are doing, win or lose the kids love to play the game and I guess that's the point.