So, the soccer season is over and I've handed out most of the trophies, t-shirts, goody bags. I've still got a few people to track down in the next day or two, but for the most part I'm done. We still have one more event on Sunday, in which the girls are going to an FC Dallas professional game and get to participate in a parade of teams before the game. They also get to play some mini games in the stadium on the same field that the pros use. I'm excited as this will be the closest I ever get to being a pro myself. The girls are looking forward to the possibility of being on the jumbotron.
Still, I look forward to a short offseason in which I will try to get away from the pressure of being a head coach. It will be nice to get away from the league, the fans, and the media scrutiny for a few weeks. My registration for next season is due back to the league on June 1st. Then I begin my offseason regimen of scouting players, making recruiting visits, minicamps, etc.
One of the more ambitious soccer moms has her girl playing with another team over the summer and invited a few of the others to come to the try outs. My daughter is going today, but I've got some reservations about the whole thing. First of all this team is a year older and will be playing against competition that is also in their age group. My daughter wasn't the most physically gifted in her own age group. She shined due to equal parts skill and determination and might not match up as well at this point. Her skill level won't set her apart as much with this group and I don't know if her grit will overcome the physical limitations.
Besides the age difference this try out is to see if this team can become associated with an academy/club team. That means that once again they will be playing with/against an overall higher caliber of player then what she has been playing with so far. I think my girl is pretty good and is certainly competitive and driven, but I don't want the combination of level and age to hinder her confidence and enjoyment.
I'm also worried about what effect this is going to have on my team. All of the girls going to this including my own are expected to be back on the team in the fall, but I'm worried about what effect this will have on the girls that weren't invited. I'm afraid that this will fragment the team and pull it apart. Truthfully, the girls that weren't invited are the ones who didn't seem to have as much interest and whose parents had previously said they did not want to do summer soccer, but still I'm not sure how much that is the case. Hopefully this doesn't cause conflict amongst the team and awkwardness this weekend. I'll be holding my breath.
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24 comments:
A team is the reflection of its coach.
Smile. Breathe in...1,2,3,4,5.
Breathe out...1,2,3,4,5.
Breathe in...1,2,3....
Those poor girls! If they are a reflection of Dagromm, they'll be hideously scarred for life.
Honestly, Lit, what's with the males in your family? The women all turn out like super models, but the boys (Guitar Hero exempted) oy! Like Leather face!
Stop protecting her so much. Let her try out.
(Haha...that's so funny coming from me. Do it anyway for kicks)
lit - I think the girls will be fine, but the parents might not get along so well. That can cause just as big a problem or cause people to leave with hurt feelings. That's not what I'm in this for.
Gyuss - I wish you would die. Right now!!!!
Fringes - I'm going to let her try out, but at this point I'm not sure if it's better for her to be on the team or not. Even if she's on, it doesn't guarantee her much (or any) playing time. That could be just as damaging. You're probably right though, I am worrying to much.
Dagromm, I think you ARE worrying too much! There are many good things that could come of this and important lessons for her to learn...sportsmanship; not just trying to do what is within her range, but going for the gusto; being among leaders and good players etc. Even if she doesn't get as much play time, at least she can observe and strive for the caliber it takes to be out there...sometimes seeing is better than doing. :)
Dags - To be the best she's going to have to beat the best.
Gayuss - You're not my type anyway.
dags, don't worry about which situation would be the best for you to be in. rather do the best in the situation you're in.
I'm thinking the parents may be the bigger problem, kids seems to find ways to work stuff out, parents will rant and rave and freak, ya got that to look forward to.
Dear, dear Gyuss,
You don't seem to understand that in our family the focus was not the facade, but the interior. The emphasis was on character, intellect, humor, and guacamole. Well, three out of four of those anyway.
By the way, we didn't call those "family values." They were family requirements.
My daughter and her friends auditioned for a musical last year. My daughter got the lead, the other two got parts in the chorus. Both of the friends threatened to quit, and one of them did. I was disappointed that the parents allowed this. Last summer all three auditioned for another musical and all three got put in the chorus. Her friends asked her if she was going to quit (assuming she would at least want to). She told them of course not, shows need the chorus and the whole experience is fun and she can learn. If she wants to try out, let her. But don't let her quit if her reason for wanting to is because she's not a star, or playing the position she wants. Good lessons to be learned here.
Tera - I know, and deep down I feel that we as a country coddle our kids to much because we are scared to let them experience failure.
I think I would feel differently if I weren't the coach. Teams stick together and I want all my girls to have the opportunity to succeed, fail, and grow together.
Chillax - I don't want to burn her out though. When I'm coaching I'm in control. It's tough to give up the control.
Heather - If I were her I'd want to go out for it too. Just to prove myself.
Eslocura - I would love coaching if all I ever had to deal with was the kids. Parent interactions are awkward at best. It might be different if the dad's ever showed up.
Plug - My kid will be fine with any position and not being the star. She will not like it though if she is getting dominated every week by older, stronger, faster players. I guess she'll just have to figure it out though. I think if she is not doing well she will ask me to go practice with her to help her out. She's the one in the house that listens to me, about soccer at least.
Those club soccer teams are like cults. Be careful if they make them drink a special kool-aid after the game.
So, um...Lit...are you seeing anyone? I'll be in Dallas next month and my arrangements for a place to stay haven't been made yet
*wink* *wink*
"She will not like it though if she is getting dominated every week by older, stronger, faster players." ~ exactly. She won't like it but she'll want to become one.
Churlita - Trust me, I'm very afraid of getting sucked into something I cannot keep up with or afford.
Gyuss - I guess my wish earlier did not come true. You can stop now.
Plug - That's my hope, or that she doesn't get dominated. We'll see.
oh good grief dags, will you just adopt g-man already! can't you see he's desperatly trying to become a member of your family. before long you're gonna run out of female relatives, then male relatives. when that happens you'd better hide the livestock and the family pets. ;-)
gyuss,
"nudge, nudge" right back at you!
You know you would be welcome in my home; however, it is no longer in the Dallas area.
So sorry.
Lit, I believe we're to the point where you just let me know where and when.
Dagromm, I haven't decided if I'm preferring that you call me Daddy or Pa
Gyuss - Go for "Pappy", it's so much more in keeping with the tone you're trying to acheive.
I'm going to kill this blog now.
What the hell is going on around here. I leave for one day and this place goes to hell in a hand-basket.
Goo, I'm glad Lit and I have your approval. It's going to make holiday dinners so much easier.
Dagromm, son, settle down. This will all turn out ok. Some day you'll understand the appeal of (slightly) older women. To quote the great C.D. Bales "They really know what they're doing"
g-man, you're incorrigible!
cyber, then stop leaving damn it!
lit, good luck with this one sister. lol :-)
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