Getting off the Schnide

As you may have read in an earlier post, our weeks are quite full with activities for the kids. One of these activities, soccer, has at times, been one of the more frustrating experiences for Brittany and I to deal with.



We were both fiercely competitive kids and usually one of the better or best players. Over the last four years we have been taking Connor to countless hours of practice. His skills have improved greatly. He handles the ball well, his passes are well timed and his shots accurate, however in games his lack of fleetness of foot he inheririted from dad has been difficult to overcome. He routinely dribbles by one to two defenders but right before the final touch, his shot on goal, is foaled by the opposition racing back to steal the ball away. Connor loves his team and is a great teammate, back his lack of scoring in approxiamtely 30 games had started to wear on him. Each game he says "I hope I can score today" and each game, even after a win, there is that sense of growing frustration with his inability to put one in the net.



Something was different Saturday morning. There was an unusaul chill in the air. We were playing the early game for once and on the car ride over I looked at Connor and said, "I have a feeling this is your game." Shortly into the first half and with our team down a goal, Connor slid behind the defense, his teammate sent in an amazing through ball and after knocking it around the charging goalie he blasted into the back of the net. Finally....but no the ref's arm was in the air, Connor had been offside...Connor's elation was deflated.



The game wore on and we were up 4-1, Connor had played great and assisted on his friends 3rd goal of the game, after sending a ball out wide Connor ran towards the front of the goal, Reese trying for his second goal of the game sent a shot off the arm of the goalie. It came to rest on the goal line. The goalie lay helpless and Connor and the central defender raced in at it. Connor slide for the ball taking it, himself and the defender tumbling through into the net. The ref signaled.....GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL. It was in Connor's teammates mobbed him as he had them numerous times before. They knew how much he wanted to score and the congratulations went on so long that the other team kicked off and nearly scored if we had not had such a great stopper in goal. The game was over and Connor had a smile like he has never had after a game before, it was a great day.