Crossing the Line

I love my daughters. I love being an active and involved part of their lives. I support them at school - volunteering in the classrooms or for activities. I participate in fundraisers and send The Big Kid on field trips. I am a girls scout leader and help them with their fundraisers. I pay their dues. I go to all their cheer leading games and competitions. I pay for them to play. I bring them to theater auditions and rehearsals and shows. I provide their costumes as needed. I coach(ed) soccer as does the Big Kid. I pay for them to play. I do fundraisers. I am willing to help out and due these things because I care. And because I can. If my child wants to participate in a sport or activity, I will gladly pay for it and fundraiser for it as needed and to the best of my ability. I will help out as much as I can.

I will never, ever fundraiser for their soccer league again. Last night, they voted to "donate" a portion of the rec. soccer money to pay for the public high school's soccer jerseys. Because they need two different jerseys - one for home and one for away (well newsflash, it's been like that since I was in high school. And in case this is new to you, they require the same in middle school). And they cost $70 each. And they have no money. And parents have to pay $50 a sport. Wah wah, boo freaking wooo. I pay for my kids to go to school and THEN pay for their extracurricular activities on top of that. In addition to paying my taxes which go TO YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS that my children do not use.

First of all - our town just build a MULTIMILLION dollar high school - opened for the first time this fall. However, they have yet to pay a home game because the fields aren't ready and the gym floors- not even a year old are warped - and need to be replaced (why, because they didn't put a humidity sensor in the gym and the summer was warm). The whole reason for building a new school was the old high school was on accreditation probation from the NAYEC. The building didn't meet current standards and would have cost too much to repair.

HOWEVER, now they have a big empty building and wouldn't it be great to repair and combine the two elementary schools so K-2 are in one building, 3-5 are in another and 6-8 are in the third (currently they have 2 elementary schools with K-4 and a middle school with 5-8). Just because the building didn't meet safety standards, we can just put little kids in at and everyone will forget the reason we built the new school because look how shiny and new it is. And whole nice new package will make everyone forget about the issues within - that we have the same teachers, that we are still failing the standardized test. It's okay. We'll just give every high schooler a laptop.

There are so many, many things I disagree with... but taking money from recreation soccer to help pay for the jerseys of the high school teams (some board member's kids play for high school). irritates the hell out of me. They claim "but in the long run, it will be for YOUR children". What about the kids who live in other towns. What about the kids (like my own) who do not, and WILL not go to public school in the town we live? And 6 years from now, when my child is a high schooler, you mean to tell me they'll be using the same jerseys? I am not some mindless idiot who is going to believe the bull shit your trying to sell me.

Please do not tell me that we have no money in rec. soccer - that we need to reuse jerseys for two season (even though I pay the same for registration both season) to cut costs. That we need new equipment. Tell me that we are barely meeting our expenses. But then tell me we have plenty of money to support the public school teams.

I am not an idiot. I can tell you though, I will pay my registration fees as long as my children play for your league (I'm tempted to switch to a different league, however they have great coaches). But I will never, ever fund raise for you again.

Soccer Days are coming to an end....

I love that my girls play soccer. I love that they seem to enjoy it. I love that we were lucky and Einey and Meenie were on the same team this year. I love that we only have practice twice a week (as opposed to four times this time last year).

But there are many things I don't like this year. Most of them due to the older girls game times.

U8 games at 2:00 pm. Every other age group plays in the morning. Except u8. I've had a girl on u-8 for 3 seasons now and will have at least one child in this age group for the next 7 season - GAH! Since the games are so late in the day, during the spring, they are just so darn hot. And right now, my kids are a bit upset and hating soccer. not the sport, but because they've missed so many things this year. Due to our afternoon games, we have (or will when the games end in 3 weeks) miss(ed) 4 birthday parties, 2 Halloween Parties, the Great Pumpkin Festival in the neighboring town, 2 Letterboxing events we really wanted to attend and the towns annual Trick or Treat on Main Street. I am squeezing in one child selling GS cookies but only because I took the late slot 4:00 to 5:00 pm. They're upset about it.

Games being on Halloween. They skipped Columbus Day weekend for the holiday but are playing on Halloween. Who the hell cares about Columbus Day? For Halloween, my kids have to miss a party AND the town's Trick or Treat on Main Street. Not that I car about the candy, but my kids like these events. And, since Husband is working, I need to get to two different fields (a game from 11-12 at our home field) hurry home, feed them lunch to make it to the away field at 1:30 for our 2:00 pm game. If we are lucky, we'll leave the field by 3:30 pm and make it home by 4:00 pm. Where I will attempt to feed them dinner, get them dressed and figure out where we are trick or treating. Did I mention I'm alone?

Our soccer league. Not getting into it here, but GAH! Lots and Lots of stuff can fall under this category.

Okay, need to balance this out, it's sounding too negative.

I LOVE coaching. I love all of our little "mini's". I love watching them play and seeing how much they've improved over the season. I love their enthusiasm. I love their theatrics. I love the smiles on their faces when they score a goal.

I love watching the older kids play. To see them work as a team as opposed to an amoeba. I love listening to them communicate.

I love playing in the rain (although not the snow, and not when it's freezing).

I love my kids coaches. They all have great coaches and great teams.

I love the crisp autumn mornings on the soccer field. Sitting with my camera and hot chocolate.

No time to call....

My friend and I coach a micro soccer team. Our team, the Dolphins, consist of 10 three to five year olds. They're a great bunch and we really enjoy doing what we do. But... You knew there was going to be a but.

However, some things tick us off. It's not the tantrums. It's not the kids running off the field at random times. It's not tying shoes and dusting off knees. Nor is it stopping battles over specific balls (how they can tell the difference baffles me). It's the parents. Now don't get me wrong, they are great. And they do what any sport parents should do - they cheer their kid on and they cheer the team on. The sit on the sideline and gossip. That's great.

However, when they fail to show up for practice and or games, that irks us. Last night I hurried to the field for practice. The other coach stayed home with her sick son. I get to the field a few minutes early and they're no one there. Fine I'm early. I wait. And I wait. And one parent shows up. One parent out of a team of 10. You do the math (other coaches kid - who we knew wouldn't be there + Moe + kid who showed up does not equal 10). Of those other 7, we knew two were iffy, but probably would not make it. SO that leaves FIVE parents, who couldn't bother to call or email to say they couldn't make it. Five parents who showed up to the game today. Five parents who did not say anything about missing practice. Sadly, we had this happen three weeks ago. Both of us coaches were there, with popsicles, and the same child who showed up last night was there. And SEVEN kids didn't show up. It's not like we're hard to get ahold of. All the parents have both of our phone numbers, our cell phone numbers AND our email addresses. It takes all of 5 seconds to call and say "hey, we can't make it to practice".

We don't get paid for this. We take time out of our week to teach their kids about soccer. And that's the thanks we get (we didn't get any coaches gifts or thank you's last season either - not that we're bitter). And it's not like the parents don't like us - they're always telling us how much they like what we do and how much they're kids love coming to practice. And all the kids who played soccer in the spring from our old team in the fall came back (they had the option to request another coach).

So yeah. Apparently our time isn't worth much.

Wanting her boys

Last night during soccer, my mini's were scrimmaging against another team. Einey asked if she could go over and practice with her friend R. at his practice. Previously, Einey had played on R's team, up until this season where they separated the boy and the girls.

Now, this season, Einey has been less then thrilled about soccer. A game, that she's loved and has been good at up until now. As I watched across the fields, I saw her out there running, passing and keeping the ball under control. She was giving 100%. She was having fun.

When we left, I commented on how well she played and told her that's what I expect to see when she's playing on her team. And we talked a bit. And I think I finally found out what's been bugging her (and me) with her team this year. This year, they split the boys and the girls. It's a little more structures in that they actually use positions and are learning what you can/can't do. There's still no ref and no penalties, that will come at the next level. But the team she's on? All they do at practice is scrimmage, scrimmage, scrimmage. There's no passing drills, there's no fun games, nothing. For them, it's all about winning and not about having fun.

At the end of our conversation, she asked me

When am I getting my boys back?

Not soon enough honey. If it takes having a co-ed team for you to have fun and give it your all, then I wish that's what we can have. I'm hoping, that if she wants to even play next season, that I can get her on another team. As VP, that shouldn't be hard, unless like this season, their is only one girls team at that age level. And if not, I'll let her take a break. She already know that next fall, Meenie will move up to her level with her coach and Einey loves that team. That coach is like her old coach, he uses games to teach the fundamentals. However, she doesn't want to play if her sister's on her team.

I wish they'd just give her her boys back!

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Soccer

With the days getting shorter, we are quickly losing our evening light at soccer practice. At the end of practice, the kids run from one end of the field, down around the opposite goal and back. Standing at the starting point, it's gotten so you lose the kids three quarters of the way across the field. We jokingly told coach that we're all going to have t oline our cars along the edge of the feld and turn the lights on. Or give the kids glowsticks or flashlights.

Looks like next week, we start practice a half hour earlier.

It's Raining, It's Pouring, But you Still Have to go to Soccer....

Taken last week when it was sunny, hot and 90+ degrees.

This morning, it was pouring so I took my time getting the kids up. At 8:35 I went into the kitchen to make pancakes when I suddenly realized A) It's 8:35 and still raining B) neither soccer coach called to cancel soccer and C) I was due at the field 5 minutes ago for team pictures.

Throwing the pancake batter to the side, tossing on some jogging pants and a clean t-shirt and throwing sweatpants, their jerseys, socks and cleats on them, I got them dressed and out the door as fast I could. I threw a handful of snacks and juice boxes in the bag with their shin pads, and after I switched vehicles, we were on our way. The field is not to far away, so we made it there at 8:55, just in time to catch Meenie's team right before they took the team photo. I quickly brushed her hair and sent her to the photographer. I managed to get both girls photos taken with their team's and individual and then handed them some rice crispy treats and cheese-its for breakfast.

I sent Meenie with her coach for the game because her first 1/2 is with a trainer and figured I would watch 1/2 of Einey's and then switch fields. I watched a bit and then switched over the Meenies, only to find out they were going to have a full hour with the trainer as the other team didn't show up (WIMPS!). Since it was essentially a practice, I left her with the coach and went to watch Einey's game. It was fun and wet to watch. 1/2 way through, I noticed she was shivering because in my haste, I forgot to grab jackets (and I was silently hoping they would cancel the game) I found one of Moe's long sleeve shirts in my bag and put it on under her jersey (thank god she's small!). Meenie's practice ended and she came over to me. I figured Einey's game would be over soon as well since they are only supposed to last an hour. A few more minutes and we could head home and have breakfast. Wrong!

Apparently because the trainers were paid and there anyway (and most of the micro's cancelled their games) , they asked if they could train with Einey's team after the game. So we stayed. Two and a half hours later, wet and cold, we left to go home, dry off and have pancakes for lunch.

Did I mention it was only 58 degrees?