Who Knew U6 Could Make For a Game?

Posted: October 13, 2008 
Filed under: All in the Family
Tagged: athletics, merrimack youth soccer, mya soccer, soccer, sports, teamwork
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This past Saturday, we had the pleasure of enjoying one hell of a soccer game. The weather was absolutely fabulous and the competition even better. Madelyn’s team met their week 1 opponent for a rematch and while you’re not supposed to keep track, the team torched us to the tune of 20+ goals to 2. The majority of the scoring was done by a boy with whom Maddie played with last year and he was a force then. This year his game has only improved by leaps and bounds.

Things have changed a little since their first meeting. For one, the team has a new found appreciation for teamwork, passing, and an overall level of focus that I haven’t seen in any youth team as young as this one. Madelyn herself has developed in to quite the soccer star. Her ball handling skills are very good and what she lacks in intensity she makes up for in playing smart. Madelyn was a little disappointed that she didn’t get to score as many goals as she usually does, but she does have some appreciation for just how hard that game was. In week 1, Maddie was the only one who could even come close to challenging their micro Maradona, but this past Saturday one of her teammates not only went toe to toe with him, he outplayed him.

It sounds really silly to rave about the play of 6 year old soccer players, but I was impressed with the level of effort, teamwork, and cooperation I saw these kids exhibit. Kids this age are supposed to all mindlessly follow the bouncing ball all over the field, kick wildly at and miss the ball, and occasionally drift off in to never-never land at the passing of a butterfly. Of course, there was a little of all those things, but I also saw the kind of in-game communication some high school teams could only dream of. I heard kids shouting warnings to their teammates, calling for passes, and congratulating each other on their defensive play. I only wish the season wasn’t coming to an end so quickly. I think I might actually becoming a “Soccer Dad”. *Shudder*