Evan starts soccer tonight. We nearly didn’t get him in (money is as tight as it’s been since I left my full-time job, and we really can’t afford it… but we couldn’t say no either), but it worked out.
So he’s got his jersey, got his soccer ball, got his outfit… He has no idea how to play, and he’s playing in an under-4’s team with one of his ‘friends’ (do kids have friends at 2.8 years old?). So it should be interesting. Hopefully he gets right in there and runs around (fear 1: that he’ll just sit back and watch) or get run over (fear 2: everyone’s bigger than him and he gets frustrated and cries because he can’t get the ball or something).
We know he’ll love it long term, but it might take a few practices and lots of loving words from mama and daddy. Who knows, though, recently he’s started wrestling with Alex so he might just hold his own on the field (though the concept of ‘rules’ will likely be a touch foreign to him).
May 30th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
With kids that age, it’s really more ’swarm’ than soccer.
Around the age of 8 or 9, I quit soccer and turned to baseball. After all, you don’t play baseball in the rain.
May 30th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
This is a drill I do with my 3 year-old that I think is typical for that age. All the kids have a ball. A whistle is blown and they run around kicking the ball. The whistle blows again and they sit on the balls and pretend they’re driving cars.
As you can see, its all about the taoist philosophy of the game, rather than the game itself. It’s hard to be an under-4 soccer player.
May 31st, 2006 at 7:55 am
Sweet soccer heaven is ahead, boy. Tackle and chip, Evan, tackle and chip….
May 31st, 2006 at 10:12 am
Hopefully the club and coaches will make it fun for him
That’s where it starts. I started playing when I was 5 years old. My parents registered me, then the next season came along and asked if I wanted to try something else… I said no … 23 years later and I’m still playing 
Now my little one (she’s 15 months old sonn 16) is already kicking a ball around *big grin*
May 31st, 2006 at 7:52 pm
Hey, as long as he has fun, he can kick the goalposts all game long. It’s all about the fun! And getting mocked for kicking goalposts only builds character. Trust me.
June 3rd, 2006 at 8:10 am
You’re braver than me! My almost 4 year old is the youngest in his nursery school class and I’ve held back signing him up for soccer precisely because I think the other boys will trample him.
June 3rd, 2006 at 10:52 pm
Best of luck to your boy! My two-1/2 year old can’t wait to get out there like his dad and big sister. He’ll have to wait, however, since leagues around here don’t start until at least three.
June 4th, 2006 at 1:40 am
It’ll be fun! Don’t be surprised if he gets upset at a game with all the noise from cheering, etc. The Preschooler Formerly Known as Busy Baby has played for 2 seasons, and, he’s the youngest.. He’s never been hurt or anything, and, he’s really caught on to it, and, enjoys it.
June 5th, 2006 at 1:44 pm
Great move Jeremy, Soccer is a great sport and it’s good to start them young. At that age it’s just about getting them some time outside and having them burn off some of that energy. They also develope friendships later and learn teamwork.
June 6th, 2006 at 6:19 pm
Ahem, it’s called “football”….