The Country Mice

After a couple of years of kicking the ball around the field, the soccer league becomes slightly more sophisticated.

For one, the players are bigger. Their legs are longer, their attention spans greater and they begin to “get” the strategy of the game.

They still tend to cluster around the ball or get jammed up in an end of the field only to discover the ball is somewhere else but for the most part their skill set transcends that of their younger siblings.

In this case we wear red shoes rather than pink and white socks — just to be different.

A Super Serious Team would not be impressed with being different. This year’s coach, conversely, had a creative approach to building team spirit. When the team was losing badly after the first half, say, 6-0, he’d say, “Hey, boys! Let’s see if we can win this half.” And, they often did. The score would be 6-1 or 7-3, but our team would still have *won* the second half.

What also happens at this older age is understanding and using the idea of a *pass.* Sounds easy. But it’s actually intimidating. Here, White Socks is slightly head of his team mate, but Black Socks has the ball.

Black Socks glances up, sees White Socks pulling ahead. Green Hornet is in hot pursuit but Black Socks is faster.

Black Socks gives a mighty kick and the balls soars ahead. Green Hornet is out paced while White socks collects the ball further up the field.

Alas, another Green Hornet is waiting for White Socks and they battle for the ball anew.

Hmmm. The Green Hornets got the ball. Again. And again. To the tune of 6-3.

But as the coach reminded them at the end of the tourney, “Hey, boys! We won our half!”

And everyone cheered!