Monday's Stories

7/26/2013

Terry (Assistant Coaching Director): The red division is our only division who doesn’t have a repeat division leader, but they were also the first division to get their team up and running; the whole division was doing passing exercises and I want to give Juan a big big shout out. So day 1 he was on the ball from the get go, he was organized and had them going. The youngest division is the hardest to get doing soccer stuff so Juan, big shout out, that was great!

Cara (Red Division): Sara was doing curriculum and she said her dream was to write a cook book, and she was telling kids about cooking, and that must have made an impression because at least a few kids on my team drew themselves as a chef or drew themselves cooking on their dream bubble and that was pretty awesome. The influence of influential people in your life.

Alice (Orange Division): We have one of the quietest girls in our division. She wrote on her dream bubble “ I want to get to know everybody in the world and help everybody until the day I die.” It was really sweet. I went back to her and I said I read her bubble and I’m really proud of her, and she got really shy but she was really happy

Bassim (Blue Division): I’m going to tell a story about the girl who was queen from our division. When we were sharing dreams, people were like “I’m going to be a cop or a fireman," and when it was her turn she said “I want to stop babies from being killed, especially babies with down syndrome." She has someone in her family with down syndrome, so it was personal to her.

Monty (Green Division): One of the bubbles from the dream board was to learn something every day and I thought that was really ambitious.

Adam (Logistics): I’m Adam. In case you haven’t noticed we carry a lot of water. Your kids drink it and throw the cups on the field and then we refill it and replace it. In case you didn’t know it there are 6 gallons of water in those jugs and 6 gallons is pretty heavy. And tonight for the first time in soccer nights history we had 2 wagons to help us carry the water. At one point during the night I was going to fill the green division and this little boy came up behind me , he was like 5 years old and he wanted to look inside. So he’s following me down the field helping me push it, but also slowing it down, helping me push it. And then when I emptied all the jugs out he wanted a ride back in it so I let him. So that was fun

Kai (3-5 Year Olds): So tonight we were playing red light green light. There was a little girl who WAS CALLING red light green light and another girl who ran in to her and knocked her over and she was upset. The girl who ran into her said I’m sorry and gave her a big hug and a giant kiss on the cheek. It was nice to see her apologize so nicely.

Elissa (Curriculum): Someone's dream in the orange division was to be a VIP. Thanks to everyone for doing such a great job!

3 Comments

Crystal (Blue Division)

7/26/2013 06:37:25 pm

Ahem, I would like to share a story that lasts the duration of three days, or one week of soccer nights. All names will be replaced because I have no idea how legality and stuff works online.
Many of you, who are in the blue and the red division, may have seen a confused looking girl chasing after a kid, and surprise! That was me. It had been a difficult week but in the end, it taught me a lesson. I wanted to share this experience 1. because it was a good lesson and 2. I miss writing freely like this. I think essays are terrible inventions.
Monday began with adjustments to my position. Instead of assistant coaching in the green division, I have been moved to the blue division. More specifically, I was given a special task of working with a boy. I shall be referring to him as Joe.
I was given precautions about his occasional misbehavior during the first session when a close acquaintance of mine had worked with him that week. My vigilance was heightened to their maximum capacity and I steeled myself for the worst case scenario.
He was not like what I had imagined. Joe came to Soccer Nights, fully prepared to have fun and kick balls. He participated in drills that the coach had set up and interacted with others in friendly manners. He had wondered off a few times, and continued to kick every ball that his eyes landed on, but he was, at the very least, manageable and cooperative.
Wednesday became more difficult. Perhaps due to lack of misdemeanor on Monday and cancelled Soccer Night on Tuesday, I had lowered my guard. He continued to kick balls but this time, Joe went after balls that other kids were playing with. They became upset when they had to chase after a ball that flew several yards away from the unsparing kicks.
I would catch him and tell him, "Joe, kicking balls that other kids are playing with isn't a nice thing to do."
He would reply, "It isn't a nice thing?"
"No, it's not nice."
His next question, as I learned later, repeated constantly throughout the time I spent with him, "...because it makes them sad?"
"Yes, it makes them sad."
"Okay, I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
Of course, it wasn't long before he chased after another kid's ball and kicked it away. As far as he could kick it.
The day continued downwards from there. He began making physical contact with other kids, calling them names, victimizing himself, running off to the red division, and disrupting drills as well as other scrimmages. He ran this way and that, distracted and uncomprehending my persistent warning and scolding.
At one point, my frustration got the better of me and I was on the verge of exploding into tears. Thankfully, head coaches and division leaders were able to intervene multiple times throughout the evening and relieve the pressure off of my shoulders long enough for me to compose myself.
I haven't felt so useless in a while.
The actions above continued for the rest of the evening until the snacks were out. Joe was restless until he had food in his hands and left with his mother.
I did not stayed long enough to watch them leave.
Thursday's rain had kept me away from the soccer field and I stayed home, doing homework.
Friday, the last day of Soccer Nights, arrived and I reached the edge of the turf with apprehension and hope that perhaps that day, I may be more adequate to handle Joe.
Never have I been more wrong.
I could never keep him in one place. He dashed around, fought with other kids, displayed insufficient enthusiasm for blue team, and kicked balls into others' area of drill and scrimmage. Coaches and division leaders continued to help as I failed to do my assigned task.
However, it was this final day that brought me to my senses. I wish I had been more patient, more understanding. Unfortunately, I realized I always fell short of the required amount no matter how much I prepared myself right before each night.
At one point, I spotted Joe screaming at another fellow soccer nighter. He screamed, "Shut up. You're stupid. I hate you!"
Instinctively, I rushed over and pulled him away from the poor child and told him why it was not okay to scream for someone to shut up.
It was a routine by then, "Joe, it's not okay to say that. And-"
I was about to continue when he looked at me and said angrily, "He was being mean to me first. How come you don't say anything to him?"
I asked him, "How was he being mean to you? Only thing I saw was you saying things you aren't supposed to."
"He said...he said mean things. Why am I not allowed to tell him to shut up?"
I couldn't find words for a moment, "Because...because there will always be people like that. And..." And what? What could I say to a child to understand that the world isn't a pretty place? What could I say so that he understand patience when even I, the one who's been chasing after him and trying to soothe him, don't have even 1/100th of the patience Jesus had?
I blinked. What could I possibly say to fill those miserable seconds ticking by?
By that time, Joe had lost his

7/26/2013 06:39:22 pm

...attention and had rushed off to kick another soccer ball.
That's when I stood there like an idiot, wondering how he managed to still smile. So many people, children and adults alike, were unable to understand him. I wondered how lonely he must feel, how unfair the world looks, and how intolerant the world is.
A fair amount of time passed until Soccer Nights concluded. I had an early ride and had to depart sooner than the end of the program.
At the end, I was thanked for my efforts and my work.
I didn't deserve the thanks.
And I said so. I said that I wish I had done more. And I really did. I also apologized for not being able to keep close eye on Joe all the time.
Then I heard the words, "Your job was not to keep him in one place. Your job was to love him and to care for him, which I think you did a fantastic job."
Then I realized where my mistake came in. And it should've been obvious. Every cliché movies and books always ALWAYS have a ways of incorporating this into their storyline.
I lacked the basic necessity that was required when working with people.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails."
So there you have it. My story.
If you read it to the end, glad I was able to share a piece of experience through letters and spaces. If not...you don't get a cookie o_o
-Crystal
p.s. It didn't fit in one post >.< sorry~

Adidas Soccer Shoes link

8/26/2013 06:24:30 pm

Great post and very interesting too.

Monday's Stories

Leave a Reply.

Hello from Soccer Nights

Archives

Categories