Eclipse Soccer Season - Our Little Defender

So the season was upon us before we knew it - Eclipse Soccer! This was our spring season, our second round with our teammates and we were excited! 

KK started to really get into soccer and was becoming more aggressive on the field last fall (while still keeping her little heart on her sleeve and cheering on her teammates more than she went after the ball). This season she was AMAZING! Our little soccer player started getting so into the games, but not as the all star scorer. No, our sweet KK became our teams #1 DEFENDER. She just latched onto the defense moves her coaches were teaching her in practice and she lived it on the field. Anytime the other team got a hold of the ball and started down the field, she would run past them to the goal (she was so fast) and then turn around at just the right moment and kick the ball away from them. It was just so awesome to watch. She had the timing down pat and she showed absolutely no fear. Soon after that, she was going in and taking the ball back and dribbling it up the field. She scored several times in several games - but her real joy seemed to be racing down that field to stop that ball.

Her coaches this year were Mr. K and Daddy.  They did such a great job with the girls.  KK was definitely soaking in what they were teaching.  She was one of the girls on the team who learned very quickly all the rules for kick offs and penalties.  By the end of the season, the coaches were calling on her to do kick offs as she knew exactly how to do it so the whistle wouldn't blow (such as kicking once to another player versus trying to dribble it herself down the field). 

 

Coach Daddy with the girls - they loved him

Our BFF on the team

Daddy did a great job coaching - it takes a lot of patience, especially when the girls don't seem to hear you from the sidelines.  But he did great!

KK did have one game where family came to watch her moves - and she did us proud!

In charge of the coin toss

She never let that ball get past her!

Waving to her fans after she scored a goal :-)

A quick video of KK blocking a kick.  It was impossible with Daddy coaching and AJ with me to get many pics or videos, and of course this one is blurry - but I think it shows just how great our defender was this season!

AJ had fun on the sidelines - but he still considered himself part of the team and was involved in team meetings.  He also "coached" with Daddy a few times when Mommy needed a break.

I love her face here - such determination.  She had just taken the ball down the field from the other team and kicked it over to Kenzie.  She was one of the few girls who understood how to pass the ball and she had such strong and big kicks.  Can you tell I am one proud momma?

Our team!  We had a pool party to celebrate the season and the coaches gave out trophy's for a job well done.  We hope to see everyone back next fall! These girls do look out for one another.  At our last game, only KK and two others could attend.  It was so hot, they didn't have enough players to take breaks.. it was a rough game against a very strong team.  At the end of the game, KK kept kicking the other team's kicks from the sideline back out of bounds.  The girls were just so tired and instead of trying to take it down the field, KK just kicked it out and away from our goal.  After the fifth kick like that, one of the girls from the other team came up to her and said "quit kicking our ball out of bounds".  KK responded "be nice to me" and she was quickly flanked by her other two teammates and the girls told the other team (with hands on their hips) "you be nice to our teammate".  Who knew such talk was going on in five year old soccer right?  But I was proud of KK for not saying anything negative and standing up for herself and I was super proud of her teammates for standing up for her too.  Love our team!

We are so very proud of KK's accomplishments in soccer. Watching her grow more in love with the game and seeing how much she enjoyed her time on the field was wonderful.  We can't wait for next season, she is already talking about how much she wants to play.  Stay tuned for more next fall!