I will miss my twice weekly visit to the soccer pitch with Juliana running ahead to join her team - water bottle in hand and soccer ball at her feet.
The final round robin tournament of the season usually draws larger than usual crowds - parents, siblings, grandparents, extended families, and friends who spend time between their own games running to find a game with other friends to watch. Rain or shine it's always a day of fun for all.
Yesterday, as we sat watching the game, I noticed one little girl - likely one of the youngest team members - on the field. She wasn't the fastest to the ball, she wasn't an aggressive player, and she played with much hesitation. A couple of times (during a make or break game) as the ball moved in her general direction I actually heard a parent sitting near me say "oh, shit". Just as every team has it's superstars, every team also has it's weakest link and she was definitely it.
Another time, another team, another coach and this little girl might have called this her last season.
But as I watched this little girl, my little girl, I saw something very different.
It was her second soccer season. Last year she struggled with her anxiety about being part of a team, having others rely on her and trying to master a skill that many around her make look so easy. She sat out a number of games due to nerves and only touched the ball (and I mean touched) a handful of times. I was surprised when she was so sure about wanting to sign up again this spring.
This year, when others saw hesitation and lack of confidence, I saw her great success. She came out of her shell, she practiced at home, she adored her coaches and she kicked, she ran, and once in awhile she contributed in a significant way to a game. All this with a smile on her face.
Thinking about it today, I attribute her success to two things: her coaches and her maturity.
After all the years we've been involved in sports, I can honestly say that Juliana's coaches this year were something special. When there was a lack of coaches for the division, this family stepped up and accepted the responsibilities. They showed this group of 8 to 10-year olds great skills, great sportsmanship, and how to have fun on and off the field. They didn't take themselves too seriously and, as a result, while the kids were busy laughing and running, they didn't even realize that they were learning important skills at the same time.
But I admit, I was having trouble getting the voice of that one unthinking parent out of my head. In the moment, it was hard to bite my tongue and not remind him that this was a houseleague game and for every disappointment he expressed from his seat there was a parent that heard it and felt it's sting. But a good night's sleep made me realize that as much as my daughter can learn something from the skilled players on her team we shouldn't forget that they can also learn something from her.
Yesterday between games she told me that she can't always get the ball from the other player and she can't always run faster but she's trying her best and that's something that she can do.
My kids make me proud everyday. But yesterday, as I listened and watched my girl, I felt a crazy kind of pride in her determination and her belief that she could do it. She might need a little practice but she's willing to put in the effort.
Congratulations to the Gold Team for winning the championship trophy. And congratulations to Juliana for getting out there and playing with such spirit.
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