Let me start by saying I’m not a huge fan of soccer. My husband and I have 3 kids: twin boys that are 14 and a 10 year old girl. We have been involved in many different sports, and I can say without a fraction of doubt, that soccer is my least favorite.
I really enjoy a fast pace, aggressive game of basketball. I love the sound of the sneakers squeaking on the floor, the swish of the net, and the cheering of the crowd. It’s the same with football. There’s not much that beats the sound of a good football hit, or the sound of the announcer calling out ‘First and Ten’ for the Greyhounds! I love baseball as well. It may not hold the same intensity as basketball and football, but it’s still fun to watch with a lot more going on then I initially thought when my boys first signed up for baseball back in grade school.
And then there’s soccer. My daughter, Khloe, asked if she could play soccer a couple of years ago. Her friends were playing and she thought she’d enjoy it. I’m usually all for sports and the benefits (responsibility, work ethic, team player, etc…) that go along with being on a team, however I was apprehensive.
I just have to say – it doesn’t appeal to me, at least not yet. The girls on the team try to do well, and they seem to enjoy it, but it just looks like a swarm of bees following a soccer ball around the field – that’s to say when the ball stays on the field. The ball is kicked out of bounds quite frequently.
I can not do better. I know this with absolute certainty. I’m an overweight soccer mom sitting on the sidelines in my camp chair, trying to stay in-tuned with the game, but really just waiting for it to be over. I remember taking one of my boys to Khloe’s first game a couple of years back. After about 3 minutes into the game, he turned to me and asked, “Is it a running clock?” I replied that it was, and he responded, “Well, that’s a good thing.” That pretty much summed up my feelings as well.
Maybe my opinion will change. As the kids get older and more skilled, maybe soccer will become interesting for me. Maybe it’s just not my thing, who knows.
Khloe had a game this weekend and I went and cheered. Perseverance was the lesson of the day because no matter how many goals she let into the soccer net, she continued to do her best as goalie (although I think she calls it ‘keeper’). She enjoyed herself and was actively out, participating on a team sport on a sunny Saturday in May.
Life could be worse.