Soccer Tyler

My oldest is playing soccer now. She's been wanting to do this for over a year, ever since our visit to my parent's house last summer. My father had setup a stick in their yard and had an old volleyball that he had Tyler start kicking around the yard. She got pretty good at hitting the stick with it so we set up a goal for her to start kicking it into. He also had her kicking the ball up the hill in the back of the yard and then stopping it when it came back down.

Ever since then whenever she sees someone playing soccer she would get all excited. We ended up buying her a purple soccer ball for Christmas and she loved it! She now has a pink Disney Princess soccer ball (birthday present) and a pink and white one that she got when we bought her uniform.

She is playing this year in the Lincoln Youth Soccer league in the 5-6 age group. It is coed at this age. They do play with goalies but they do not keep score. For the most part the kids do not understand positions or offsides yet. Most of the time they can't even remember which way they are supposed to kick the ball. They are just excited to play. Alot of times one will get the ball and be so excited they just keep kicking it even once it is out of bounds. They spend alot of time getting up off the ground too. But they all have a blast and we parents have fun cheering them on!

Tyler is one of the shortest on the team, but also one of the fastest. When they run laps she is always at the head of the pack. She is actually pretty good and not afraid to get in the middle of things and get the ball, that is when she is paying attention and not playing with her hair!

We are really proud of her and enjoying watching the games! This may end up being something she decides to continue doing every year. We'll have to wait and see!