Saturday Soccer

It was not raining when we left home for the soccer game. It had been sprinkling on and off all morning, but it most definitely was not raining as we loaded up the minivan with all the requisite chairs, strollers, snacks, jackets, water bottles, soccer balls, and children it takes for a family of 5 to enjoy a 45 minute U5 soccer game.

I have to admit that part of the reason we signed D up for U5 soccer is that it's cheap entertainment. We have such fond memories of watching the son of our dear friends "play" soccer when he was three, which at the time meant zooming around the field like a superhero, only to be interrupted periodically by a black and white ball whizzing by. Mac is now a respectable athlete, I understand. But there's nothing like watching a group (gaggle? herd? pride?) of four year olds in their first experience with team sports.

Today did not disappoint.

As we reached the field, it began to rain. Rain, not sprinkle or mist or fall lightly. It was really raining, and blowing sideways. Alex and I looked at each other, knowing that we probably should take the girls back home rather than subjecting them to watch soccer in the rain, but neither of us really wanted to be the one to miss the game. Some kind people lent us umbrellas to hold over the girls, and they had jackets and covers on their double stroller. (It was a warm day, Mom, really, they were OK!)

At first, D and his fellow Silver Streaks kept looking at the parents incredulously, as if to say, "Do you know it's raining? And we're out here? With no jackets? Is this really OK?" But then they got into the spirit of it, led by ever-cheerful and dripping wet Coach Huong. It wasn't the crispest play I've ever seen by the Streaks, but some soccer was happening.

And then they saw it. The water was running in a rushing stream down a little concrete culvert at the end of the field. Oh, the joy of running water! It is time for a throw-in, but where are the Silver Streaks? Two of them were wading in the brook, happily splashing and kicking a ball with gusto. From then on, the game depended more on how many children could be coaxed out of the stream and back to the field. At one point, the normally 4-on-4 match-up was 5-on-2. I think those Orange Tigers were definitely trying to take advantage of the situation.

Suddenly, it was just like in the movies...cue the music...the rain stopped, the sun came out, the world was fresh and dripping wet. The umbrellas came down, jackets were stripped off, everyone was so glad they had not run for the minivan after all. Time for the second half. Time for some soccer.

Well, it's hardly fair to expect a bunch of four year olds to concentrate on a silly game when a pair of fighter jets appears from behind the trees, roaring overhead. The game was halted for a moment to allow the entranced children to watch. The whistle blew. Now we're ready. But wait, here come the jets again, circling the field. There goes the ball...where are the players? Two have wandered back to the stream, three more are completely oblivious to anything but the powerful aircraft in the sky. The jets continued to circle the field for the remainder of the second half. Some soccer was played intermittently. Coach Huong's whistle blew to end the game, but that second half was a suspiciously shorter than the first.

Another game in the books for the U5 Silver Streaks. See you next Saturday!