Lessons Learned: First Soccer Team

Well, we survived and we've learned so much already. 

They named their team the Pokemon Dragons. Cameron doesn't even know what Pokemon is. 

Confidence is not something easily taught and nervous habits start young.

Snacks drive a team.

Coaches really do make a huge difference in the outcome, especially at 3 years old, and for our first time out, we couldn't have asked for better!  

There are good days and bad days on the field too.
They shouldn't switch goals at half time until they're at least 7, just saying.
It's easy to get attached to your ball.

The three things that I wanted Cameron to really get out of his season:  

new friends, new adults, new ideas.

We wanted him to be comfortable with his team and the idea of working together. Obviously that idea will grow as he does, but this was an excellent start. He learned every single players name, and made sure that he high-fived them all after every game.

We wanted him to know that there are other adults besides his parents and teachers that he should be comfortable with. He loved Coach J and gave her a high five at the beginning and end of each game. He always told her thank you and left with a smile, no matter how much or how little he played (his choice mostly).  He was just excited to be there and doing it. He felt big and important. He loved that we were there cheering him on.

We wanted him to hear some new ideas/concepts:  hustle, offense/defense, goal, teamwork, pass, etc.
Each week Coach J tried to teach a new idea and it was pretty amazing. There were some genius ways that they tried to get some of these "new" words across by teaching certain skills totally age appropriate to help the players. From high-fiving a stuffed animal (mascot) that hung out on top of the goal after they scored or playing red light/green light to help them hustle with the ball and dribble. They are all things that Cameron understood and that we can/will continue to play at home.

I'm proud of my Pokemon Dragon and I know it will seem silly down the road, but I'm glad that he was up for it.  Great Job, Cameron! You weren't the star player, but you didn't have a pacifier in your mouth or wear a diaper on the field . You weren't crying on the sideline the whole time or sitting with your parents. You were a part of the team and you even scored a goal or two.  Don't worry, it doesn't really matter that it went to the other team that one time, we won't tell anyone.