Coaches' Soccer Game

Posted on Mon 02/15/10 in Fatherhood

This weekend, I experienced the game of fútbol from a new perspective: as a player. Sure, I’ve been the assistant coach of my four-year-old’s soccer team for months now, but I never actually learned the rules or understood much of the strategy. We didn’t keep score or have goalies (or as I now properly call “keepers”), so it was hard to really see the game in its full complexity.

I signed up for the coaches’ game, figuring it was a little game between the other coaches in the Boys Under 5 league we played in. At the pre-game meeting, a few days prior to the game, I discovered none of the coaches I knew to be present, rather there were 60 fifty guys (and gals) who probably grew up playing soccer or played regularly. All the “travel” soccer coaches were there; I admit I became slightly nervous. Footwork was never my strong suit, which is why I stuck with football, baseball and basketball. Not too mention this was going to be 3 × 40 minute games in a row.

The first game day was rained out, and the new date was Valentine’s Day, which was absolutely gorgeous: 68 degrees and sunny. Because of the change, the roster was cut to about 35 of us, split into four teams. We played on the small fields and played 6-on-6 and then 7-on-7; lots of play time. The first game I was pretty useless. Positions, rules, and technique escaped me, to put it lightly… but it wasn’t too embarrassing. We won the first game, thanks to having some excellent players and an unbelievable goal keeper.

The second game started, and I was a bit more comfortable, having learned many of the rules while screwing up in the first game. I covered pretty well, kept their forwards back by pressing up on defense, and only blocked the keeper’s line-of-sight once (which did result in them scoring). I was redeemed myself while playing forward. I came across to receive a pass in the middle and scored! It was exciting… I took my shirt off and ran across the field cheering and cursing… turning cartwheels, a back-flip and culminating with a 5 foot knee slide across the grass. Well, I would have done all that, except I figured the back-flip attempt would have landed me in the hospital. I covered better that game and was complimented, “good ball”, on several passes, including one which set off a scoring play.

Needless to say, I am very sore today. Despite my resolution to stick with basketball, I took away from this experience an appreciation for the game, some used shin guards and orange and green soccer socks, and a willingness to fill in if ever called upon for battle.