Kids Soccer: Swarm Ball

John – after his game.

This Saturday was our 5-year-old’s second attempt at soccer, or should we say swarm ball?  The boys were like bees to a hive.  These 5 and 6 year olds swarm after the ball and don’t stay in their positions.  It really is so cute to watch.  Scituate has a really great program for kids with Scituate Youth Center, who have been running programs for 40 years.  This year it was $30 for  8 weeks.  I thought it would be a great way for John to try soccer (football in the UK) for the first time.

If you remember Saturday was a very, very warm day – near 80s and muggy.  The field was overgrown and squiggy from all the rain.  The game was eventful.  There was tackling and kicking, not to mention many wipe outs as the field was as slick as a slip and slide.  At one point John was kicking the ball approaching the other team’s goal and then just sat down on the ball when someone tried to kick it away.  Yes, if all else fails, sit on the ball!  Part of me wondered if I was watching a rugby game  minus the scrums.

Game Day Action.

I don’t really like watching sports, but I was so excited to see John play and all of the boys out their in their soccer kit.  Nonni and Grampy came to root him on for hist first game.  It is crazy, but when I sit on the side of the field in my portable chair, Mary Lou’s coffee in hand, I turn into this other person.  Not a Tiger Mother but dare I say it: a Soccer Mom!  I hear myself yelling, “John, the ball is coming!”  “Stop being a dinosaur and pay attention.”  Or, “John, you are going the wrong way!”  I know it is completely cringe worthy.  I really don’t even care about the score of the game.  I just want him to have fun, but I also want him to pay attention, listen and play the game correctly.

The cheering section.

I’m not at all athletic.  When I was about 8, I attempted soccer in Andover and I was put on the WORST team.  I was on the Roses (our shirts were as red as my face from embarrassment).  One time a girl named Buffy tripped me and the wind was literally knocked out of me.  I couldn’t breath, I couldn’t stand up.  I thought I was going to die on the field.  I really did.  Then someone helped me up.  I did two seasons of soccer and hated every minute of it.  I did score a goal once after a pep talk from my dad on the side lines, but I was scared of the ball, I would close my eyes when the ball would come at me.

I hope John isn’t having the same issues with soccer that I did.  After about 15 minutes of game time John was done; his head soaking with sweat, his shirt muddy and his stomach hurting.  He watched the rest of the game perched on Luke’s lap cheering on his teammates.  Perhaps, my dramatic son will enjoy drama club after school more than swarm ball.  Maybe he’ll follow in his mom’s footsteps.  I’ll keep you posted.  Drama club starts next week.