Soccer Shots

Lia and her two friends from school, Teagan and Parker, started Soccer Shots last week!  Soccer Shots is a great organization that puts on soccer camps and weekly lessons for very young children (starting at age 2).  I'm not sure Lia had any idea what soccer even was before she arrived to play, but she was super pumped to spend some time with her friends outside of school.  The soccer coach was excellent with the kids and had wonderful age appropriate games for them to play to learn the basic techniques of soccer.  Lia said she had a great time and I'm glad because we are going every week throughout the fall!

Erin and Halle had a great time playing on the playground with Parker's sister, Ryan, who is in their preschool class.  They also really liked watching Lia play.

 They start out the session teaching the kids a few different things - this first lesson, they learned to "squash the bug" on their ball by putting their foot on top, how to sit on their balls and how to do "little kicks" to begin to learn to dribble.  The kids were each given a chance to run out with their balls and score a goal.

After each kid got to score, they played a real soccer match.  Now, this was absolutely hilarious - for two reasons.  Most of the kids had no idea what the heck was going on and were either running after the ball just to have a chance to kick it (in no particular direction) or were wandering aimlessly looking lost.  I'd always heard stories of when Todd was young and playing sports how he would sit in the outfield and pick grass or play in the dirt instead of pay attention to the game.  This was totally Lia during this little soccer match.  Made me laugh so hard.

She found a stick and was digging in the dirt.

There was an awesome stick she found right in the "tent" (as she called it) and she sat there, unknowingly playing a damn good goalie.  haha

Overall I'd say it was a success.  Lia was interested and engaged most of the time and seemed to really like her coach.  Only time will tell if soccer becomes a real interest of hers!