I am a Soccer Mom...

Honestly, I'm not big into organized sports - I have never in my life played on a sports team.  Well, not unless you count that one time I played on a darts team, but I think that'd be stretching it. I danced when I was a little girl, played in the band through college, and was on the Academic Bowl and Forensics team.  Yes, you guessed it - I was (and still am) a big ol' nerd.  I admit it and to tell the truth, I'm proud of it.  But, just because I never wanted to get within spitting distance of a soccer ball or a softball bat doesn't mean that I wont' support my girls if that's what they want to do.  So, when Gracie started making grumblings about wanting to play soccer like Ruby and Emmie, I found the local soccer site on-line and signed her up.  Her first practice was two weeks ago and she seemed so little out there on the field with the other kids and honestly, she spent a good part of each practice running off the field and hollering, "Daddy!  Can you come out here and help me, PLEASE?"  At least she's smart enough to realize that asking me to help would be worthless!  Well, today was her first game and it was like from the moment she donned her grape-colored purple shirt, she became Grace, the Preschool Soccer Warrior.  That shirt was like instant touch-chick armor. 



And Steve, who's never played soccer in his life, magically absorbed all the information he needed to cheer her on (I was, and still, am lost - all I know is that she can't use her hands - something that she repeatedly tells me whenever I try and pick up her pink and white soccer ball from the lviing room floor).  Since only five people play at a time per team on her leauge, Gracie had to sit out the first few minutes of the game.  I was so proud of her - instead of sulking because she didn't get to play, she cheered and hooted and hollered for teammates - I guess all these years of helping her daddy cheer for Alabama football have come in handy - I think I even heard a couple of "Go Boy!  Go Boy!  GOOOOO BOOOYYYYYY!!!"s come out of her mouth. 



Then, came the moment of truth - she was actually put into the game to play.  And play she did. 



She ran as hard and as fast as she could - trying to keep up with the ball and her fellow players.  By the end of the second half, though, it was very apparent that defense is going to be her strength.  She is a scrappy little thing, jumping in front of other players, elbowing her way to the front of the pack.  And, she has no trouble voicing her opinions.  She told more than one player on the opposite team - "You are being SO RUDE!" to which the other players would respond by looking incredibly confused. 



A few times this proved to be an act of defensive genius - the other players would be so befuddled by her remarks that they'd just let the ball fly right by them.  But, I'm afraid that Gracie might be taking her defensive moves a bit too seriously.  There was a little boy on the other team that was as small as Gracie and they invariably ended up in the same place on the field at the same time. 



And, then, they'd end up shoving each other, and came close to blows a few times.  (Now, in Gracie's defense - this wasn't a one-sided attack, the little boy was giving as good as he was getting)





I was afraid Gracie was going to be the first one in the history of soccer to be red-carded the very first time they played a game. 











See, I do know a little about soccer - I did remember that being red-carded was not a good thing   Maybe there's hope for me yet!