Sunday, August 19, 2012

Soccer highs and lows…

long post, but want to record this for our girls
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Beautiful soccer girls, their blood red cheeks and lips from playing so hard :)
Our girls are passionate about many things…  but Soccer and Piano are two of their favorites.  Gymnastics is getting up there too, doing cartwheels and round offs everywhere we go.

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Winning the championship in double overtime!
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Woot Woo!!  They played their hearts out for the win!  Such joy on their faces
Sparta Championship
Such a good team, each with a love for soccer and very skilled in the sport, many of their best friends are on the team, and a great assistant coach

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Unfortunately, not a great head coach.  I won’t go into too much detail, hate talking bad about others, but one of the hardest things I’ve had to do with the girls was tell one that she was no longer on this team, she got moved to another.  Really?  He is splitting up my girls this late in the season?  They have played so well!  He admitted they are some of his strongest kickers, and read the ball better then others.  He also made other changes on the team that really hurt the team.

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I almost changed leagues for them right away, but he talked me into staying, saying it was best for the girls (it was a no win situation, either they both leave their team and friends, or stay and one goes to the Select team).   He kept Sage on his Premier team and moved Sophie to the Select team, at least she had a great coach (the assistant coach).  Only a couple months left of the season so we finished up with them.
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They practiced together, but had separate games each Saturday. 
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Sage
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Sophie’s cute new team, celebrating at Yogurt Stop after a good win.  They loved having Sophie on their team, they won every game after she came on when they were loosing before.  But Sophie was a little heartbroken at first.  First time I’ve seen her cry in a long time (I cried too, but not in front of her).  Her first words after I told her were, “will I still be friends with…”  Then, shortly after, she asked “Does Andrew (coach) even like me?”  With 3 boys growing up playing sports, I know how competitive and cut throat it can be.  Sports are a lot of fun and competition pushes you to do your best, and I love team sports and the friendships they make, but sports/coaches can be cruel, and they are sweet 9 year old girls, they don’t need this stress in their lives.  Sophie’s a winner and didn’t let it get her down for long, she really shined on the new team, although it wasn’t quite the skill level she’s used to playing, but she enjoyed being the star of the team :).  He was the first coach that didn’t absolutely adore our girls.  He has a military style of coaching and would often boot the girls (whoever was talking) ball several yards away if he didn’t have 100% of everyones attention at all times, so they had to run and get it.  The team was afraid of him and Sophie and Sage were starting to dislike their favorite sport.  
So this year, they tried out for a different league and made a great team (Sparta tried to talk us into staying).  They will be playing against their Sparta friends, but they are liking their new Avalanche team, have a great coach, and are quickly making new friends.  The best thing I heard from Sage was, “Hey, I like soccer again!”  The coach keeps it fun. 
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Sophie (blue socks middle) and Sage (blue shorts, behind Sophie), with their new team and league
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They were invited on the REAL field for Opening Ceremonies at one of their games, they flashed each players picture on the Jumbo Tron
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Then they got to play a game on the field for the half time show!!  Awesome
We heart REAL games!
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Sophie and Sage- we’re proud of our soccer girls!  Regardless of what team you’re on, win or lose, you play your hearts out and help your team a ton!  Keep kicking!