Glutton for Punishment?

Remember how I used to coach Whitney's soccer teams but then decided to give it up because it felt like it brought too much conflict between us? After that I enjoyed several seasons of spectating and didn't feel many coaching pangs until last season when it seemed like her team wasn't making any progress. Still, I didn't want to add another thing to my plate so when I signed her up to play I checked the "coach if no one else will" box on the form.

Guess what? Now I'm in charge of eleven 5th/6th graders' soccer season. We've had two practices and two games and I've done a whole lot of yelling from the sidelines. (It is all I can do not to run out on the field to play myself.)

Whitney has become a really good goalie and is a great Forward when she chooses to run. She scored a perfect goal during last week's game!

It's kind of amusing to be a coach for a Rec Center team because we don't require a whole lot. It's not a super competitive league like the kind parents pay a ton of money for their kids to join, yet at this age level it seems like we should be seeing some good progress and skills happening.

Who knows what this season will bring?

Cool Your Jets

Does anyone else use this phrase? What about "hold your horses"? I use them both, and since our soccer team's name was "Jets" this just had to be my title.

Last Wednesday evening was our last game of the season (we only play 8 games), so even though it feels like we just barely started playing, the season is already over. It's a bummer really because everyone is finally getting good just about the time the season is over...then we have to start all over again and retrain them next season.


This is what the back of my car has looked like all season. I had the bag of balls from the Rec Center, plus chairs and blankets for watching Landon's games.

Our team photo by Landon

This was the scene before every game and before every half. The girls would swarm me and beg to play a certain position. We could only have 7 girls on the field at a time, but I had 11 on my team, so 4 of them took turns being disappointed.

Whitney's BFF came to the last game with us.

We also had an unexpectedly large show of support from my family!

Half-time clamoring.

What I did most of the time. I only wear this watch when I'm coaching so I can tell the clamoring girls, "You can't go in yet, they've only been in for 3 minutes!"


Whitney had some good moments during this game and did a fantastic power kick which ended up being an assist.


I love my trusty clipboard. I have a sheet I've made up to help me keep track of who has played what position and for how long, and to keep track of scoring and shots on goal.


I wish Whitney would realize how good she could be if she really tried. I know it must be like this for most of us in various areas of our lives (I wish I knew what my areas are) because she has got power and skills, but has a tendency toward jogging rather than all-out running. At one point I yelled across the field to her, "You know you have to run right?!"

No words needed.

We barely won 3-2, but at least we didn't get creamed for the one game we had a fan club!


As always, I'm sad when soccer season ends, but feel slightly relieved not to have so many practices and games to be keeping track of and be running to. Landon has already started Flag Football, so there has been no rest for us.

**Do you have clamoring in your life?
Do you wear a watch?
How often do you yell?**

Comment Window Tidbit: My job interview is at 10:00 this morning and I feel calm and relaxed except for the nausea and butterflies in my stomach.