Calling all Rookies!

September 17, 2011: Week One: Rookie Week

It’s official. I have become a soccer mom, a nice little jump up from being identified as a soccer aunt. I have been inducted into the soccer mom subculture although I think I had my foot in way before soccer started.

My “baby boy” Freddy who just turned 4 years old in July began playing soccer for the first time and although he is familiar with knowledge of what a soccer ball looks like, he has limited understanding of how to play the game.

There was a disorganized structure in the air; no one really knew how to untangle it. Many new parents and children surfaced and I was glad to see a few familiar faces from my son’s preschool.

One of the other rookie moms whispered to me, “There should be a special needs soccer team, don’t you think?” She wanted her other son, who is autistic, to have a similar opportunity as his sibling. She did not want him to develop a disposition of irritation as he sits on the sideline watching his brother play. I thought that was a very interesting point. With an increased population of children with special needs, why isn’t there a special needs team?

Practice begins. With his mommy, daddy, and grandparents cheering him on, Freddy’s confidence flaunted through his high–spirited smile. During the first half hour of practice, he did remarkably well. I was expecting some crying, tantrum, and any behavior he could muster up to alert me that he did not want to participate. To my blissful surprise, he appeared to be having fun during practice drills. Great, I thought, he is going to enjoy this. It’s going to be easier than I had imagined it would be.
 

The game begins. A few minutes into the first game of the season and Freddy’s first game ever, he comes sprinting off of the field. My thoughts were premature as he did not disappoint, crying and carrying on displaying HIS finish. He was done. I tried to encourage him to get back into the game but he was reluctant to my nudge. He was not the only rookie acting out this willful debut. There were four other players on his team also crying and uttering that they did not aspire to play.

I became increasingly nervous. As a rookie mom, I did not know exactly how to handle this situation. Although I had been to my nieces’ soccer games numerous times, this was new territory for me, and for my son. I glanced around at the other “new” parents and witnessed that they were also disheartened. Unsure of how to encourage their child without dipping into negative reinforcements, each novice parent, including myself, did the best we knew how to do. Should we expect coaches to intevene and inspire young new players?

It seems odd and quite funny to me that all five players who had beginners’ anxiety were all on the same team, my son’s team. It should come as no surprise then, that our team lost. Don’t laugh at me when I tell you that I cannot even convey what the final score was. I was so diligent in trying to drive Freddy back into the game. I was not alone.

Hmmm, where is that survival guide for new parents when you need it?

I do not want to pressure my son so far as to seem that it is forcing him to play, but at the same time I do not wish for him to learn that it is acceptable to quit after not really trying. When is enough, enough?

Calling all rookies, parents and children alike, get back into the game.

Let’s see what next week brings. I’m trusting that Week Two will create a better outcome. Maybe I will even be able to report on the final score. Maybe Freddy and the other rookies will play in the game.

Here’s hoping.