Under 6 Soccer is the BEST!!!!

 All three of my kids have played soccer at one point. Megan has recently given up soccer for her swimming addiction, but Matthew still continues to focus on soccer. 

Not to be left out, Alaina decided to play soccer this year. She is on a little U6 team at the local YMCA.

The first game was "iffy" at best- she cried through the whole thing because "no one would share the ball with her." Her second game was a bit improved. She ran up and down the field, though without much gusto and even gave a tentative smile or two. Mamaw watched this game so her breaks were mostly spent hugging Mamaw who assured her she was doing great.

THEN CAME THE COMEDY HOUR! This past Friday's game was PURE entertainment. Alain started the game running, at least she sort of ran. She ran as if prancing slowly while pumping her arms like a choo-choo, stopping every 10 yards or so for a quick ballerina twirl mid field.  After a few rounds of the prancy run, she came off the field panting and announced, "I;m running like a Maniac!". The laughter began there!

She went back in the game and started to go toward the group and run with them, but would get skiddish as they got close, so she started snarling at them. I wish there were words to describe the snarl face on my beautiful little girl. It is a mix of a growl and barring her teeth. When she makes this face, both dimples shine and her golden curly hair often flops over a shoulder just as she snarls at you.  Nevertheless, she was running and snarling when the crowd cheered (the other team scored a goal). She stopped, threw her hands up in the air and cheered, then gave us a double thumbs up with a big grin.

That alone would have been entertainment, however the coach put her in the goalie position. She proceeded to hang from the goal, twirl in the net, and watch her team chase the ball.  Then the real humor started. She tried to stop the shot, but the other team scored. The parents cheered and Alaina threw her arms up in celebration and cheered. Every time the other team scored, she would celebrate in a huge way.  She even screamed out to us, "Am I doing it like a maniac yet?" We of course replied, "YES!"  She continued to prance, sidestep and even a little tiger walk as she tended the goal. They continued to score on her, and she continued to cheer.  It was the most fun, crazy, and entertaining game we have ever watched (and there have been many). Therefore her father and I have decided that U6 soccer is the BEST!!!!!