Gabe got a Hat Trick!

Had our first regular season soccer game last weekend. I have 3 out of 7 kids from last year returning to our team. Gabe, Josh & Xavier. 1 of my boys has never played before, one has not played for two years and is a year younger than the rest of the team. I was a bit worried about this game and I use the term worried loosely, as it is just a U9 soccer game. Last weekend we played in a Jamboree and lost all three games. We not only lost but got schooled pretty much each of the games. We did not score a single goal and had maybe 3 -4 shots on goal for all three games. My worry was mainly that this would be a really long season for the boys.

I had been feeling the boys were pretty squirrely for our two practices last week and that if they took that mindset into the game we would get pounded, again. So I talked to them a bit about why they’re playing and what they wanted to get out of it, among other things. Saturday they showed up to play the game. I was duly impressed with our team and especially a couple of the boys focus and tenacity(it was complete 180 from last weekends games and practices). We played well as a team and lost by one or two goals. We scored three.

Gabe scored all three. One of which was from a goal kick by Xavier. He carried the ball up the field sliced and diced around two of the other teams players and made a killer goal past the keeper. He really has amazed me with how well he is picking up the game, his ball control and passing. He is really fast and focused when he’s playing its quite a riot to watch. He has an intensity about him that is fun to watch. I’m looking forward to their next game.

S