Little Kickers

Ahhh, tis the season for organized spring sports. Ashton is finally at the age where I can sign him up for some of the town leagues and first up, pre-k soccer! Nevermind that the ball and shinguards cost about as much as the session fee. Ashton was playing whether he liked it or not!

So it was a beautiful Saturday last weekend and it was a family affair (meaning Jason came too). Ashton is signed up along with his buddies Jackson and Adrian and all week the only thing he could talk about was being on Jackson's team. He would randomly tell me, "Hey Mommy! I'mma gonna be on JACKSON'S team at soccer!" This idea excited him more than anything and we got to soccer and Ashton plopped down right next to him to listen to the coach (middle two blonde heads):

Overall though Ashton was a little hesitant. There was a lot going on (the number of kids was like 4 times the picture above) plus all their parents, siblings, etc. They broke out for their first "drill", which was dribbling the soccer ball around in small areas. Ashton immediately fell over his ball. In the process of getting up, he fell again over another kid's ball. Cue the tears and running off the field sobbing that he "can't do this".

Even Jason could not get him back in the ring, as they say.

30 minutes went by and Ashton just watched, which I told him was okay. But then they broke up into groups for some scrimmaging and I said, "Ashton! It's time for TEAMS! Maybe you can be on Jackson's team!" He pepped up and finally I got him to line up with the other kids.

Fate was not on my side. Despite Jackson and Ashton being next to each other, Jackson was handed a black jersey and Ashton got a blue one. Ashton was oblivious to this fact and happily said, "Jackson! We're on the same team!" and Jackson, 8 months older and wiser, said "No we're not. I'm black and you're blue!" and off he went.

Totally crushed by this news, Ashton came running off the field crying for a second time.

He was immobilized by his color. I mean would not, COULD not step back on to the field. He was back to just watching.

Finally, the coach was able to score an additional black jersey from another group. It didn't matter that the "teams" were now uneven - we're talking about 3 and 4 year olds who were all in one big clump anyway and competing to just kick the ball, nevermind as a concerted effort in a specific direction.

So Ashton got his black jersey on and it was like...

He was born again! He ran back out on the field! See, even the mom next to us was smiling (to give you an indication of the trainwreck the blue jersey turned him into).

And then by the end, there he is proudly kicking the ball.

It might not seem like much, but it was a huge deal. He was walking on air afterwards talking about it. I said, "Ashton, wow! How many kicks did you get??" 

That's "TWENTY."

Overall, the first session of Little Kickers was a jam-packed hour full of emotion - can't wait to do it again! ;)